Ex-ATP Pro Cites Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams’ Examples to Explain Why Emma Raducanu Won’t be US Open Favorite after Washington Run

Although Emma Raducanu has started her campaign in North America, it's uncertain whether Novak Djokovic will play in Cincinnati.

Ex-ATP Pro Cites Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams’ Examples to Explain Why Emma Raducanu Won’t be US Open Favorite after Washington Run

Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, Emma Raducanu (Image via X/Novak Djokovic, WTA, Christopher Robin)

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Emma Raducanu has enjoyed another decent run this season. In the ongoing Citi Open, she knocked out Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sakkari to book herself a spot in the semifinal.

But in the last four, Anna Kalinskaya ended her run with a 6-4, 6-3 scoreline. Reaching the semifinals of the Citi Open for sure won’t make the Brit a favorite at the US Open, which her compatriot and former ATP pro, Barry Cowan, has pointed out during an interview with Tennishead.

He compared her to that of tennis greats Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams (retired), both of whom entered Majors as contenders to win despite inactivity. Last year on the North American swing, Raducanu only played one warm-up tournament (Citi Open) before entering the US Open, skipping the Canadian Open and the Cincinnati Masters.

She played two really good matches, she won, she built momentum, she lost narrowly to [Paula] Badosa in the quarter-finals, and then she didn’t play after that until the US Open.

Last year, Raducanu suffered a first-round exit at Flushing Meadows. Home favorite Sofia Kenin had knocked her out in three sets.

Well, you can’t expect to play, you know, one great week and then not play for three or four weeks and then pick it up. At 30 years of age or 35 years of age, if you’re a Djokovic or further back, Serena Williams, that’s okay. But for Raducanu, she needs matches.

Barry Cowan added

But it’s at the US Open that Raducanu played her career’s best tennis back in 2021, winning the tournament by beating Leylah Fernandez, who is scheduled to lock horns with Kalinskaya in the Citi Open final. Last year, Raducanu had played less than 15 tournaments but had vowed to play more this year.

What’s next for Novak Djokovic?

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the Canadian Open and is scheduled to play the Cincinnati Masters next. The second combined ATP and WTA event of the North American hard-court swing is scheduled to start on August 7.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/TNT Sports)

But it’s uncertain whether the 24-time Grand Slam champion will be making his appearance. He last played the tournament in 2023 and ended it in his favor by beating five-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz. He skipped the event last year. The Serb has lifted the title here thrice (in 2018, 2020, and 2023).

Following Cincinnati, the focus of the tennis world will shift toward the US Open. The Serb last lifted a Grand Slam title at Flushing Meadows back in 2023, and since then, he has made it to a Major final only once- at the 2024 Wimbledon, losing the match in straight sets to Alcaraz.

Djokovic this season has played the semifinals of the first three Majors, losing in Paris and London to World No.1 Jannik Sinner. At the Australian Open, an injury forced him to retire mid-match after he lost the first set against Alexander Zverev. Also, for the first time since 2017, the seven-time Wimbledon champion has failed to progress to the championship match at SW19.

This season, the 38-year-old has lifted one title- the Geneva Open by beating Hubert Hurkacz. This made him the third man after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer to win 100 singles titles in the Open Era. Apart from this, he has also made it to the final of the Miami Open, losing the match to Jakub Mensik.

Last year at the US Open, Djokovic’s campaign was ended by Australia’s Alexei Popyrin in four sets in the third round. Djokovic hasn’t yet clinched a Big Title since winning the 2024 Paris Olympics by beating Alcaraz. Djokovic is 26-9 this season and stands in sixth position on the rankings table.

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