EMMA RADUCANU produced one of her best-ever performances at major level as she crushed Janice Tjen in ONE HOUR – and she could now face a former Wimbledon champion.
Four years on from being crowned the Queen of New York in fairytale fashion, Raducanu is delivering some of the best tennis we have seen come off her racquet.
A 6-2 6-1 hammering of Indonesian breakthrough star Janice Tjen propelled her into the third round and her next opponent could be 2022 Wimbledon conqueror Elena Rybakina, provided she gets past Czech Tereza Valentova.
Sixty minutes were registered on the clock and by one minute, it represents the quickest completed victory since she turned professional.
This was her 26th Tour-level main draw victory so far in 2025 – her highest career tally in a single entire season.
What has been noticeable about Raducanu over these past few months, and since March’s US Sunshine Swing at least, is the considerable improvement in her serve.
It is a formidable weapon now, she is getting more bite on the ball, is hitting her spots with regularity, it is both pacy and precise and there are few cheap points given away.
In the first round against Japan’s Ena Shibahara, she opened up with a 100mph ace out wide and against Tjen, the opening point was recorded at 98mph.
It was a statement of intent and the level did not drop from that moment.
Tjen might be a qualifier and in the draw for the first time but she has real pedigree at ITF level, winning 100 out of 113 matches since turning pro in May 2024.
Yet in the glare of the TV cameras, she was overwhelmed by the might of Raducanu’s serving and with 31 minutes on the board, she was one set down to the British player.
Indeed, the biggest problem Raducanu had to deal with were her shoes and on deuce point in game two of the second set, she had to halt play for a few seconds.
Standing in the shade on the Louis Armstrong Court, her sock was causing her discomfort and she had to quickly adjust her footwear before she could continue.
A double fault a few minutes later gifted the break to Raducanu and from 2-0 up in set two she did not look back.
Francisco Roig, her coach, barked out instructions throughout the match and at one point, before she took a break point in game 12, he said: “We take it, we breathe and we are ready for the next one.”
Former British No.1 Tim Henman was impressed with the standard on display, saying: “Top quality from Raducanu. She is suffocating Tjen in the rally. It’s a relentless level.”
Raducanu – who served eight double faults and no aces – said: “I’m very pleased with how I played. Second round, after two days, it kind of breaks the rhythm a little bit.
“Janice is a super dangerous opponent. She was playing extremely well and I thought any ball I put in mid-court wasn’t necessarily good enough, she’d put it away easily.
“Really pleased with how I performed. I love being on the Louis Armstrong Court.
“It’s a nice feeling (to know I inspire her). Janice is playing really dangerous tennis. She has got through some top opponents.
“Playing really well, I’m sure she can take a lot of confidence from this week. I look forward to the next time.
“It’s the consistency of doing good practice every day, building on that. After Miami I did some really good stuff. I also feel in the last few weeks I’ve stepped up.
“I’m really happy I have those people in my corner and really grateful for them.
“Now I’m putting a lot of trust in what I’m doing behind the scenes. It takes a bit of pressure off.
“But when you play a match on a big stadium, you feel the pressure. I like to try and use it as much as I can.”
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