Emma Raducanu has shown strong form in 2025, highlighted by a semi-final appearance at the Citi DC Open in Washington. The 22-year-old defeated Marta Kostyuk, Naomi Osaka, and Maria Sakkari without dropping a set before losing 4-6, 3-6 to Anastasia Kalinskaya in the semi-finals. Raducanu’s performance at this WTA 500 event earned her 194 points and helped her climb 13 spots in the rankings to 33rd, improving on her 21-15 record this season.

After a challenging start to her year, with six losses in her first nine matches, Raducanu began gaining momentum starting with a quarter-final run in Miami following her partnership with coach Mark Petchey.

Former British player Barry Cowan offered his insights on Raducanu’s chances at the upcoming US Open, which begins on August 24. “Yeah, I think grass and fast hard courts are her best surfaces,” Cowan said. He attributed this to Raducanu’s excellent timing and aggressive baseline play, which helped her rush opponents in her 2021 US Open victory.

Cowan also pointed out the challenges she faces on slower surfaces like clay. Reflecting on Raducanu’s Washington performance last year, he noted, “You can’t expect to play 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 [Novak] Djokovic, or further back, Serena Williams — that’s okay. But for Raducanu, she needs matches.”

Looking ahead, Raducanu will open her campaign at the WTA 1000 event in Montreal against world No. 56 Elena Gabriela Ruse next week. Her recent form and tactical improvements suggest she will be a player to watch as the US Open approaches.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina continued his impressive run at the Mubadala Citi DC Open by defeating Ben Shelton 6-2, 7-5 to secure a spot in the tournament final. The Spaniard, seeded 12th, showcased resilience and aggressive play throughout the match.

Earlier in the tournament, Davidovich Fokina ended the campaigns of Americans Learner Tien and Taylor Fritz. After his late-night victory over Fritz at 2 a.m., he displayed no sign of fatigue against Shelton on the courts at Rock Creek Park.

Davidovich Fokina capitalized on early first-serve issues from Shelton, combining heavy groundstrokes with strategic net approaches to claim the first set in 28 minutes. In the second set, despite twice saving break points, Shelton’s errors—including a double fault and a poorly executed forehand drop shot—allowed the Spaniard to gain a crucial break at 4-3. However, Shelton quickly recovered as Davidovich Fokina faltered with his forehand, returning the break.

With the home crowd rallying behind him, Shelton held serve confidently, pushing the match toward a potential deciding set. At 5-5 and 15-15, Shelton missed an overhead, followed by a backhand error, giving Davidovich Fokina two break points. The Spaniard seized the opportunity, hitting a forehand winner at the net to break and then served out the match without faltering.

This win improved Davidovich Fokina’s 2025 record to 32-17, including five victories against top 10 players. He reached his first ATP final of the year in Delray Beach and also finished runner-up in Acapulco shortly after.

On Sunday, Davidovich Fokina will face seventh seed Alex de Minaur in pursuit of his maiden ATP title. De Minaur advanced to the final by defeating lucky loser Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-3.

The final promises a compelling contest between two in-form players seeking to lift their first trophy of the season.

At the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Leylah Fernandez and Anna Kalinskaya will compete for the title in Sunday’s women’s final. Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian and 2021 US Open finalist, advanced after a grueling three-set victory against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, winning 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) in three hours and sixteen minutes. Fernandez’s performance included 12 aces and marked her second top-20 win of the week. Earlier in the tournament, she defeated the top seed, Jessica Pegula.

Kalinskaya, the 26-year-old Russian ranked 48th, efficiently reached the final by defeating Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-3 in less than half the time of Fernandez’s semifinal. Kalinskaya’s precision was highlighted by 14 backhand winners in the match. Raducanu notably had beaten Fernandez at the 2021 US Open.

Both players come into the final unseeded. Kalinskaya is seeking the first title of her career in her third tour-level final, having lost her two previous championship matches last year. Fernandez, with three career titles to her name, will be competing in her seventh final overall as she aims for her first title of the season.

Sunday’s match promises to be a compelling contest between two determined players eager to capture a significant WTA title on the hard courts of Washington.