Emma Raducanu delivered a commanding performance to defeat Naomi Osaka in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, on Thursday (July 24), securing her place in the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington. The 2021 US Open champion outclassed four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka with clinical precision.
Match Recap
Emma Raducanu came out strong, taking control early in the first set by breaking Osaka’s serve at 3-2, capitalizing on a double fault. She then held serve to love and maintained her lead. A long forehand from Osaka gifted Raducanu the set in just 38 minutes.
The second set followed a similar trajectory. Emma Raducanu broke serve early and held her own to lead 3-1. Another double fault from Osaka gave Raducanu a 4-1 lead, and the Brit eventually closed out the match with a solid first serve, saving a break point and converting her third match point.
By the Numbers
Emma Raducanu ’s serve was a standout feature of the match—she won 76% of points on her first serve and 61% on her second, compared to Osaka’s 45% second-serve win rate. Osaka was hindered by seven double faults and couldn’t capitalize on either of her two break-point chances.
Post-Match Reaction
Speaking after the match, Emma Raducanu said she felt both proud and relieved. “I expected a tough match—Naomi’s a four-time Slam winner and has been world No. 1. She’s especially strong on hard courts, so I knew I needed to play smart and manage my service games well.”
She also spoke about her strategy, especially when handling second serves: “If you float a second serve, Naomi will punish it. I had to trust my second serve and go for it. I think I only had one double fault at the end.”
Next Challenge: Maria Sakkari
Emma Raducanu will now face Maria Sakkari, who advanced by beating Emma Navarro 7-5, 7-6. Sakkari, who also eliminated Britain’s Katie Boulter earlier, is in top form. Reflecting on the upcoming matchup, Raducanu said, “We’ve played a few times. The conditions suit her here, and she’s playing really well after knocking out the second seed.”