Emma Raducanu’s US Open run came to an end on Friday as she was swept aside in straight sets by Elena Rybakina.
The 2021 Flushing Meadows champion was unable to match the firepower of the former Wimbledon winner, who surged to a 6-1, 6-2 victory in just over an hour.
The result marks a career-best performance for Rybakina at the US Open, advancing her into the last 16 for the first time.
She will next face either reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini.
While Raducanu’s campaign concluded earlier than she had hoped, it was not without encouragement.
The 22-year-old has shown signs of resurgence this summer following years disrupted by injuries, and her form on the North American hard courts suggested genuine progress.
Rybakina’s power too much
The build-up had centred on Raducanu’s ability to cope with Rybakina’s serve-and-baseline dominance, but the Kazakhstani imposed herself from the outset, winning 82% of first-serve points and striking 11 winners on her way to taking the opening set 6-1.
Raducanu attempted to exploit Rybakina’s second serve, but her opponent still claimed eight of 14 points in that area.
The second set began with Raducanu surrendering a 40-0 lead on serve to hand Rybakina an early break — a setback from which she never recovered.
With Rybakina winning 90% of first-serve points and 70% behind her second serve, Raducanu was denied a single break opportunity in a one-sided finish.
Rybakina eyes deep run
“Really happy with the performance, it’s not easy playing against Emma,” Rybakina said in her on-court interview. “The score doesn’t show, she’s a tough competitor. Hopefully this year I can go as far as possible.”
Having reached semi-finals in Cincinnati, Montreal and Washington DC this summer, Rybakina is emerging as one of the title favourites in New York.
Her progression marks the 10th time she has reached the second week of a Grand Slam as she targets a second major crown.