This feels like the first true blockbuster clash of this year’s US Open championships, with former Wimbledon champ Elena Rybakina set to face a resurgent Emma Radacanu.
2025 WTA Tour
Grand Slam Tennis
US Open Tennis
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre, New York City (Outdoor Hardcourts)
Selected 3rd Round Matches- 29th August
Elena Rybakina (9) 0.44 vs Emma Radacanu 1.75
Kazakh Rybakina overcame a spirted challenge from Czech teenager Tereza Valentova in her round of 64 clash, battling some 2nd set serving demons to ultimately prevail 6-3, 7-6. A two-time Grand Slam finalist, Rybakina will be looking to progress beyond the 3rd round of this event for the first time in her decorated career. The big-serving Kazakh has lost a bit of her fear-factor this season, losing five of six semifinals this year (she has been unusually tight in crux situation). Still, she broke a 13-month winless drought in Strasbourg and came into this event as the most consistent player during the US Open precursors, reaching three successive semifinals in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati. She just needs to find a bit of that old Rybakina BMT.
2021 US Open champ Emma Radacanu has been on a mission this week, picking up her two quickest Grand Slam wins with victories over tricky qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen. The 22-year-old Brit was close to perfection against Indonesian qualifier Janice Tjen, hitting 16 winners and landing 79% of her first-serve points in a dominant front-foot display. She was imperious on serve, conceding just 13 points on her delivery for the entire match. Having not won a US Open match since that 2021 US Open triumph, Radacanu will be eager to navigate her way into the 2nd week of this slam. She has won a career-best 26 wins this season, putting that sordid stalking affair behind her to pick up some meaningful results. She picked up a maiden WTA 1000 quarterfinal run in Miami and won three successive clay-court matches for the first time in Rome. She reached the recent Washington semifinals and pushed Sabalenka in an epic three-set clash in Cincy. She is serving wonderfully and will look to pile pressure on Rybakina’s vulnerable delivery.
The Verdict: Rybakina to win in three at 2.95– Rybakina leads the head-to-head 1-0, demolishing Radacanu 6-0, 6-1 at the 2022 Sydney Tennis Classic. This promises to be a much closer affair, with Rybakina’s serve teetering while Radacanu’s has solidified. There is little to choose between the two on current form. However, I still believe that the Kazakh will find a way. She will represent a huge leap in quality from Radacanu’s other opponents and I think her groundstrokes just have a bit more pop. Still, this one could go all the way.
Emma Navarro (10) 0.89 vs Barbora Krejcikova 0.89
These courts bring out the best of former collegiate star Emma Navarro. The billionaire heiress enjoyed a stellar 2024 campaign, winning her first title while reaching a maiden WTA 1000 semifinal in Toronto. The highlight of her season came in this event, where she underlined her burgeoning Grand Slam potential with a herculean semifinal run (she would go on to win the WTA award for most improved player of the year). But she has struggled to replicate that form this season, failing to go beyond the quarterfinal stage of any event outside of her title-winning run at a understrength Merida Open. Her serve has wobbled this year and she hasn’t really developed a destructive weapon. She came into this tournament on a three-match losing streak but has found a 2nd wind in New York, coming through a nervy first-round match with Wang before a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win over compatriot Caty McNally. She was clinical against McNally, converting seven of eight break-point opportunities. Navarro just thrives in this pressure-cooker environment, improving to 7-1 since the start of last year’s US Open.
Barbora Krejcikova is starting to purr. The two-time Grand Slam champion has struggled with injury issues throughout her career, missing the first four months of this season due to a back issue. She has slowly reintegrated into tour action, picking up a solid 4th round at the Cincinnati Open. She still looked rusty in Cincy, requiring three sets in all three wins. She has looked much more decisive in New York, not dropping a set against Mboko and Uchijima. Mboko was the talk of the town after that Montreal win but Krejcikova diffused her power expertly. She looked just as strong in her 2nd round win over Uchijima, winning 72% oi her first-serve points in a 6-4, 6-2 win. She was unleashing bombs on her forehand side (a clear indication that Krejcikova is playing somewhere near her full potential). A quarterfinalist here back in 2021, the Czech is starting to look like a strong dark-horse contender.
The Verdict: Krecikova to win in straight sets at 1.85– Navarro leads the head-to-head 1-0, coming from behind to win at Wimbledon earlier this year. To be fair, Krecikova was still in big-time recovery mode at SW19. These two are quite evenly matched all-court players, covering plenty of ground while creating interesting angles. But Krecikova’s forehand adds another dimension, allowing her to inject pure power into protracted rallies.
