Emma Raducanu has received backing for a potential breakthrough at the U.S. Open from a former coach to six-time champion Serena Williams.
The British star’s Cincinnati Open campaign ended in heartbreak following a thrilling three-set third-round battle against world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
The 22-year-old Raducanu came agonizingly close to toppling Belarusian powerhouse Sabalenka in Ohio but fell short in a nail-biting 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-7(5) loss, during which she also grabbed attention by requesting a crying baby be removed from the stands.
However, Rick Macci – who mentored Williams and her elder sister Venus during their formative years – has identified Raducanu as a potential dark horse at Flushing Meadows this month. The 2025 U.S. Open kicks off later this month, with Raducanu aiming to capture her second Grand Slam crown four years after her sensational triumph in the Big Apple.
“Great competitive effort from Emma against Sab,” Macci wrote on X. “The secret sauce with a win or loss. She never lost the skill just the will. Now all about the battle and harder to rattle. Can deliver shock waves in New York by going into each fight with a knife not a fork.”
Raducanu has shown marked improvement throughout 2025, matching or surpassing career milestones at both the Australian Open (third round) and French Open (second round). She also advanced to Wimbledon’s third round, where she endured another straight-sets loss to Sabalenka.
The player was satisfied with her enhanced performance against the top-ranked opponent. Sabalenka, on the other hand, seemed to have a hard time in certain parts of the match, as she admitted in her post-match interview.
“The whole time, this is what they call ageing,” she told the Tennis Channel. “I was like, ‘This is what it feels like to be old.’ I looked at Emma, and she was like pumped and ready to play the next point. I was there still trying to recover my breath, and I was like, ‘What’s going on?’”
At 27, Sabalenka is far from being past her prime. However, the heat had her questioning why her fitness was not up to par, providing her with a clear area for improvement before the U.S. Open.
“I couldn’t believe I was getting old, I looked at Jason [and] didn’t say anything, but we need to do something because I’m getting old,” she added. “Maybe we’ll do extra recovery, a bit more stretching [and] mobility to make sure my old body will be able. I’ll be fighting and ready, but it just sucks feeling old.”
Raducanu has yet to secure a win against Sabalenka in their three encounters so far, with their first match taking place at Indian Wells last year. Despite winning the major four years ago, the Toronto-born prodigy hasn’t made it past the first round of the U.S. Open in her last two attempts. However, she remains hopeful that a return to form could set the stage for a more formidable title run this time.