Emma Raducanu continued her impressive run at the Canadian Open, securing a decisive victory against 32nd seed Peyton Stearns with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 win. The former US Open champion is building significant momentum in Montreal, now advancing to the Round of 32 where she awaits her next formidable opponent from the match between Amanda Anisimova and Lulu Sun.
Raducanu’s performance throughout the hardcourt swing has been nothing short of exceptional, accumulating five wins against only one loss. Her recent form includes straight-set victories over formidable players like Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sakkari, culminating in her first appearance at a WTA 500 semifinal last week, before a tough loss to Anna Kalinskaya.
Conversely, this defeat marks a challenging period for Stearns, as it is her third consecutive first-round exit, following losses at Wimbledon to Laura Siegemund and in Washington to Venus Williams. This outcome also diminishes her chances of being seeded at the upcoming US Open, with her focus now shifting to the Cincinnati Open next week.
The opening set saw an imposing display from Raducanu on serve, highlighted by six aces and winning 71% of points on her first serve. Her strategic play capitalized on Stearns’ unforced errors and ineffective second serves, allowing the British star to secure the crucial first break in the fourth game. Raducanu’s dominance was further underscored by a remarkable streak of eleven consecutive points won on her serve, establishing a commanding 5-2 lead.
The most fiercely contested game of the match unfolded on Stearns’ serve at this juncture, extending to an intense 20 points. Raducanu demonstrated her relentless determination by converting her sixth break point opportunity, ultimately seizing the first set 6-2. Throughout the set, the Briton impressively fended off all break opportunities from her opponent, converting two out of seven chances to claim the set after 42 minutes of play.
Stearns showed signs of improvement at the beginning of the second set, demonstrating greater effectiveness on her serve and applying more pressure on Raducanu. In the third game, Raducanu skillfully saved a break point against her, but by the fifth game, Stearns managed to take a crucial lead. With a strong performance on her own serve, the American world No. 37 comfortably established a 4-2 advantage.
However, Raducanu’s resilience shone through at a pivotal moment. She orchestrated a critical break in the eighth game, leveling the score at 4-4. In the subsequent game, she heroically saved three break points against her, demonstrating her composure under pressure to maintain her position in the match and then take the lead. Stearns, unable to perform under the escalating pressure, succumbed to another break, which sealed Raducanu’s 6-2, 6-4 victory and her progression to the Round of 32.
This latest triumph marks Raducanu’s 21st victory in WTA 1000 tournaments throughout her career, with 11 of those wins occurring this year. Her 23rd win this season now equals her best campaign in terms of total victories, mirroring her 2024 performance. Looking ahead, Raducanu’s next formidable challenge will be against either Amanda Anisimova or Lulu Sun, both familiar opponents. She holds a perfect 2-0 record against Anisimova this year, while her last encounter with Sun at Wimbledon 2024 resulted in a tough fourth-round defeat, where Sun made a significant impact by reaching her first Grand Slam quarterfinals.
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