Emma Raducanu’s grass-court season may not have unfolded as she had hoped, but she’s been impressive during the North American hard-court swing. The Brit defeated four-time Major champion Naomi Osaka to secure a spot in the Citi DC Open quarterfinals.
Raducanu is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory, having regained her form and rediscovered her joy for the game. She recently shared that she feels more comfortable with herself, both on and off the court.
What Has Changed in Emma Raducanu’s Mindset During This Hard-Court Run?
The 22-year-old has maintained a solid track record at the WTA 500 event in Washington, reaching the quarterfinals in each of her previous appearances, and the 2025 edition was no exception. The Brit faced Osaka in a high-profile clash of former Major champions.
Raducanu looked sharp from the outset, taking the first set 6-4. She carried that momentum into the second, closing it out 6-2 to reach the Washington quarterfinals for the third time.
Meanwhile, Osaka struggled with a shaky baseline game. With 19 winners, the Japanese also committed 38 unforced errors, with her backhand misfiring frequently during the match.
Making a statement 😤@EmmaRaducanu battles past Osaka 6-4, 6-2 to return to the quarterfinals in Washington DC.#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/9ffyJOTXNy
— wta (@WTA) July 24, 2025
The Brit sat down for an interview with Tennis Channel following the match, where she was asked whether she now appears to be enjoying herself more both on and off the court, considering her improved results and return to the top 50 in the WTA rankings. In response, the World No. 46 agreed and said:
“Yeah, big time. I feel a lot more composed. I feel more relaxed, more comfortable in myself, and just what I’m doing on and off the court. I think I’m putting a lot of good work in, so it takes the pressure off of the results because I know how much I am doing behind the scenes and banking.”
Raducanu shared that she’s enjoying her tennis and focusing on consistent improvement, playfully comparing it to a Snapchat streak she hopes to maintain.
“I am really just enjoying my tennis, enjoying getting better and collecting as many good days as possible in a row. And it’s pretty childish. But I am trying to keep this streak going as long as possible of like, good days. It’s like a snapchat streak. But, just trying to keep it going,” she added.
Raducanu To Face Maria Sakkari in the Citi Open Quarterfinals
Emma Raducanu could face a tough test against Greece’s Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Citi DC Open. Notably, Sakkari advanced to the last eight by defeating second seed Emma Navarro in straight sets in the second round.
However, Raducanu is likely to enter the matchup with a psychological edge, with a 3-0 head-to-head lead over Sakkari. Their most recent encounter came at the Dubai Duty Free Championships, where the Brit secured a comfortable straight-sets win.
The match gives the Brit a golden opportunity to reach her third career semifinal. Whoever prevails will face either No. 4 seed Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya in the last four.
