Emma Raducanu

EMMA RADUCANU breezed past Serena Williams at the Cincinnati Open on Tuesday night. · Russian-state TV delights in Emma Raducanu's new Russian coach · Related ...

For Raducanu, the statement win over Williams arrived at the perfect time as she gears up to defend her US Open crown at Flushing Meadows. Her warm-up against Raducanu at the Cincinnati Open didn't go to plan as the Brit romped to victory in just over an hour. The Brit powered past her American opponent at the Cincinnati Open and won the second set 6-0, blitzing soon-to-retire Williams in rare fashion.

Emma Raducanu followed up her win against Serena Williams with a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing of Victoria Azarenka in Cincinnati.

At 33 years old and with her stagnant ranking of 22, Azarenka is even further removed from her days as a top player than Williams, her run to the 2020 US Open final an anomaly in the six years since she was a top–10 player. She sprayed unforced errors and moved sluggishly, and finished the first set with just four winners to 16 errors in the first set alone. You know how difficult the wins are to come by,” she said. When Azarenka contested the US Open final in 2020, Raducanu was studying for her exams, dreaming of one day joining her on those stages. “I think I have tried a lot of things, and this year I think some matches, I have lost a lot of matches from leading situations and probably just played too tense,” she said. It became immediately clear that there would be no hangover as she broke Azarenka’s serve in the opening game and ran with the lead, hugging the baseline and robbing time from the Belarusian with her early ball-striking while offering few errors.

Emma Raducanu won the first 10 games against Victoria Azarenka en route to a straight-sets victory Wednesday in the second round of the Western & Southern ...

[Cameron Norrie](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=2366) outlasted three-time Grand Slam-champion [Andy Murray](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=235) 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. 8 [Jessica Pegula](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=2113). [Serena Williams](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=394) on Tuesday and the first 10 against Azarenka. Also, [Taylor Fritz](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=2946) beat Wimbledon finalist [Nick Kyrgios](https://www.espn.com/sports/tennis/players/profile?playerId=1984) 6-3, 6-2. "I just try to focus on collecting points. "I try not to think about the score," Raducanu said.

The British teenager continued the dominant form shed showed in the first round against Serena Williams; the former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka didnt hold ...

"I had to stay really focused throughout and in the second set I could feel the important moments. Simona Halep was forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a right thigh injury. "I have been told it is most likely a really minor sprain, so everything should be healed soon." In contrast, Raducanu displayed a steely focus and outstanding concentration to keep her foot on the gas for two sets. "The things that I do are maybe more amplified because of my situation. There were a couple of turning points that could have made the second set really, really difficult...

EMMA RADUCANU has taken just two hours and seven minutes to reach the third round at the Western & Southern Open.

Following her emphatic victories, the British No 1 has been honest about her rollercoaster first season on the tour and revealed how she has raised her game in Cincinnati. Raducanu has found her best level at the perfect time, with the US Open now 11 days away. [Emma Raducanu ](/latest/emma-raducanu)has admitted she experienced some “really low” moments in the 11 months since winning the US Open.

Emma Raducanus straight-sets victory over Serena Williams sets up a second-round match with another WTA Tour veteran in Victoria Azarenka, who overcame Kaia ...

"I hadn't played tennis in months, and I was just dreaming that one day I'm going to play on Ashe, and one day I'm going to be at that level and playing these great players myself. "I remember more recently when she was playing in the US Open and made the final in 2020. [skysports.com/tennis](http://www.skysports.com/tennis), our Twitter account [@skysportstennis](https://twitter.com/SkySportsTennis) & Sky Sports - on the go! "Each of those wins kind of build confidence regardless of the level you're playing, every single win counts. I was studying for my exams," she added. But of course this one more so, because you're playing like the greatest.