Raducanu advanced to the US Open third round with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 win over Janice Tjen. The 2021 champion showed sharp form, firing eight aces and 16 winners. Raducanu now awaits either Elena Rybakina or Tereza Valentova as she seeks a deep run in New York.
Emma Raducanu continued her impressive run at Flushing Meadows, advancing to the third round of the US Open for the first time since her historic 2021 title-winning campaign. The 22-year-old Briton produced a dominant performance on Wednesday, defeating Indonesia’s Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1 in just over an hour.
Raducanu entered the match full of confidence, having dropped only four games across her first two encounters. In her opening round, she swept past former doubles World No. 4 Ena Shibahara, and against Tjen, she showed no signs of slowing down. With her aggressive baseline play, consistent serving, and clever shot selection, the young star signaled her intent to make another deep run in New York.
Tjen’s Breakthrough Halted
Her opponent, Janice Tjen, has been one of the surprise stories of this year’s tournament. The 23-year-old Indonesian, who graduated from Pepperdine University last year, has enjoyed a rapid rise on the professional circuit. Ranked No. 149 in the world, Tjen brought an eye-catching record of 101 wins to just 13 defeats over the past season, along with a first-round upset victory over 24th seed Veronika Kudermetova.
Despite her strong form and fearless approach, Tjen found herself outmatched against Raducanu’s pace and precision. While she impressed at the net — winning all six of her points there — she was largely pinned behind the baseline. Raducanu exploited Tjen’s weaker backhand side, forcing repeated errors and opening up opportunities to hit 16 clean winners.
The match began competitively, with Tjen earning three break points in the third game of the first set. However, Raducanu held firm, saving all three with a combination of well-placed serves and aggressive follow-ups. From that moment, the Briton seized momentum and never looked back.
Serving Brilliance and Tactical Control
Raducanu’s serve proved a major weapon throughout the contest. She fired eight aces, lost only 13 points on serve in total, and never allowed Tjen a genuine chance to break again. Her controlled aggression from the baseline ensured rallies remained in her favor, with her ability to redirect play leaving Tjen on the defensive.
Speaking after the victory, Raducanu praised her opponent’s fearless style of play while expressing satisfaction with her own execution:
“Super dangerous opponent,” Raducanu said. “She was playing extremely well, and I thought any ball that I put mid-court that was not necessarily good enough, she just put away easy. So I was really pleased with how I performed today.”
A Season of Resurgence
This latest victory marks Raducanu’s third run to the third round of a Grand Slam in 2025, underscoring her resurgence after a period of inconsistency and injury struggles in previous seasons. Since her breakthrough as a teenage champion at the US Open four years ago, Raducanu has faced immense pressure and scrutiny. Yet her steady improvements this season have rekindled belief that she can once again challenge the sport’s best on the biggest stages.
With her confidence restored and her game firing on all cylinders, Raducanu now has a chance to extend her campaign deeper into the second week. She is bidding to reach the Round of 16 at a major for the fourth time in her career — a milestone that would further solidify her return among the sport’s top contenders.
Next Challenge: Rybakina or Valentova
Looking ahead, Raducanu will face a sterner test in the third round, where she awaits either ninth seed Elena Rybakina — the 2022 Wimbledon champion — or rising Czech teenager Tereza Valentova, an 18-year-old qualifier making her Grand Slam debut. Both opponents present unique challenges, but Raducanu’s form and composure suggest she is ready to rise to the occasion.
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For Raducanu and her fans, the US Open continues to hold special significance. The courts of Flushing Meadows witnessed her meteoric rise in 2021, and now, four years later, they may yet provide the stage for another remarkable chapter in her career.
