Emma Raducanu had only two days to change cities and countries before returning to the court, but she did not show any signs of fatigue in her straight-sets win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
Emma Raducanu had only two days to change cities and countries before returning to the court, but she did not show any signs of fatigue in her straight-sets win over Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
In her debut at the Canadian Open in Montreal, Raducanu followed up an impressive run to the semi-finals in Washington last week with a 6-2, 6-4 victory, to keep her push for a seeded place at the US Open on track.
Ruse, who Raducanu described as a “good friend”, has a history with the Briton that dates back almost four years, when the pair were hitting partners at the Transylvania Open.
In the aftermath of Raducanu’s US Open victory, the pair also played an exhibition match at the Royal Albert Hall, Raducanu’s first match on home soil after her win.
They also speak Romanian together – with Ruse representing the same country from which Raducanu’s father hails. However, a close friendship can sometimes make it difficult to face across the net, although Raducanu did not show any signs of it affecting her.
“I’m happy to have come through that, I know Elena and she’s a very good friend of mine. It’s very difficult to play someone that you’re close to,” Raducanu said on court after the match.
“So I’m really proud of how I put that to one side for the match and also backed up a good week last week in DC and performed well today.”
Emma Raducanu is through to the second round at the Canadian Open after beating Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-2 6-4 🇬🇧 💨 pic.twitter.com/qcSUDuhZMr
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) July 28, 2025
Raducanu had faced Ruse only once before, in Auckland last year and that match, which went to three sets, was under wildly different circumstances. On that occasion, Raducanu was taking to the court for the first time following an eight-month absence through injury, having needed a wildcard to enter and ranked just outside the world’s top 300.
This year, she is pushing for a seeded place at the US Open, standing at 33rd in the world following her first semi-final since the Nottingham Open in June last year. With the top 32 players in the world receiving a seeding at Flushing Meadows, Raducanu is keen to earn herself a kinder draw in the early rounds in New York.
In the heat of Washington, Raducanu showed some of her best tennis against Maria Sakkari, Naomi Osaka and Marta Kostyuk. She was in good form again against Ruse, despite the difficulties of playing against someone she considers a friend.
“It’s extremely difficult [to play a close friend],” Raducanu said.
“We’ve spent a lot of time together on court [in] practices and she’s a great girl, so it’s not nice when you have to see her name in the draw, but I’m really pleased with how I performed.”
Raducanu’s attacking prowess, particularly on Ruse’s serve, was problematic for the Romanian and she often came out on top of the lengthy baseline exchanges.
In fact, the only time she had to fight hard was at the start of the match when Ruse, who had held the first game comfortably, forced Raducanu to save five break points in the second to hold. It was by far the longest game of the contest, and an important one for Raducanu to survive. She did not face another break point until the second set, after a winning run of five games across the first and second sets.
However, the result was also in part due to Ruse’s errors. She struggled with her serve, making seven double faults in the match, which allowed Raducanu to capitalise.
Raducanu’s serve looked vulnerable at times in the second set. After winning the opener 6-2, she was broken twice in the next one, and throughout the match regularly turned to part-time coach Mark Petchey for advice.
Petchey, who said Raducanu would require a permanent coach but that it would not be him, was alongside his daughter Myah and hitting partner for the tournament in Canada and Washington DC, Alexis Canter.
Petchey was seen on his feet applauding Raducanu at key moments in the match and in regular discussions over technical points, despite his comments in July that his commentating commitments for Tennis Channel would rule him out of taking up the role full-time.
While there has not been any movement in who could take up that permanent position, it is clear from Montreal how much Raducanu values Petchey’s insights and advice.
08:33 PM BST
Raducanu reacts
I’m so happy to have come through that. I know Elena, she’s a very good friend of mine and it’s very difficult to play someone who you’re close to, so I’m really proud with how I kind of put that to one side in the match and also backed up a good week last week.
08:32 PM BST
Who will Raducanu play next?
Raducanu faces American Peyton Sterns in the second round. I expect that to be played on Wednesday or Thursday.
08:30 PM BST
Watch: How Raducanu wrapped up victory
First round ✅✅✅ for Emma Raducanu!
— Omnium Banque Nationale (@OBNmontreal) July 28, 2025
Premier tour ✅✅✅ pour Emma Raducanu !#NBO25pic.twitter.com/aRFcxJWCij
08:04 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 6-4 Ruse
Good start for Raducanu as Ruse nets a forehand. But a double fault put her in danger at 15-30. Safer first serve and it works for Raducanu as Ruse nets, 30-30.
Timely wide first serve by Raducanu and Ruse sends a forehand long. Match point...
Ruse forehand long. GAME SET MATCH RADUCANU!!!
08:00 PM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 5-4 Ruse*
Raducanu forehand pass and Ruse nets her volley, 15-30. Ruse then sends a backhand, 15-40. Raducanu shakes her fist in the direction of her team as she looks at two break point.
Ruse first serve in, Raducanu digs out a short return and Ruse nets a backhand. Raducanu breaks and will serve for the match.
Ruse is making life much harder for herself with the amount of double faults that she is racking up. She is constantly having to fight her way back into service games after a double fault, although she has pushed Raducanu much harder in the second set than the first.
Her use of the dropshot in particular has been problematic for the Briton.
07:55 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 4-4 Ruse
This match is far from over as long as Ruse keeps teeing off on her forehand side. It’s Ruse’s best shot and something Raducanu needs to avoid.
Forehand error by Raducanu makes it 15-30 and opens the door for Ruse. Wild backhand from Ruse goes well wide, 30-all.
Fast return by Ruse and Raducanu sends a forehand long, break point. Ruse gets after it, ups the intensity and Raducanu nets a backhand. Ruse breaks back.
07:50 PM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 4-3 Ruse*
Frustration for Raducanu as she misses with a forehand return down the line. Right shot to play but couldn’t execute. Sixth double fault from Ruse makes it 30-30.
Bang. Raducanu thumps a massive 132kp/h forehand down the line for a winner, deuce. Ruse never moved for it. Deep return by Raducanu rushes Ruse and draws the error, break point.
Ruse forehand approach stretches Raducanu wide, the Briton chases after ball, gets there and whips a cross-court forehand pass beyond Ruse. Stunning finish to the game and Raducanu breaks.
07:44 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 3-3 Ruse
Forehand by Raducanu is slightly mis-hit but coach Petchey is on his feet applauding after the ball flies away for a winner, 15-0.
Ruse is determined to play this match on her terms but Raducanu remains composed and moves to 40-15. Raducanu is cleverly using her slice to slow down Ruse. Great resilience from Raducanu to hang tough in a rare prolonged rally and Ruse pushes a backhand into the tramlines.
Big roar from Raducanu at the end too. That was an important hold.
07:36 PM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 2-3 Ruse*
Ruse looked in control at 30-0 but Raducanu pegs her back to 30-all. Then a double fault gives Raducanu a break point chance. Timely first serve by Ruse is too good for Raducanu, deuce.
Two more first serves are also too much for Ruse and she holds. Steely determination in the body language of Ruse as she marches to her chair.
07:32 PM BST
‘Raducanu has been pegged back’
After firing her way to taking the first set with ease after a difficult opening service game, Raducanu has been pegged back slightly in the second.
Ruse has come out firing, breaking for the first time in the match and going on to perform well. The baseline rallies are of a high quality, but Raducanu’s serve has been more accurate.
07:31 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 2-2 Ruse
Raducanu will want to get back on track straight away here. She finds plenty of joy when she moves Ruse away from the centre of the court and out wide. A third double fault of the match makes it 40-15.
But she soaks up the pace and holds Ruse hits a forehand long.
07:26 PM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 1-2 Ruse*
Back comes Raducanu. After the disappointment of losing her serve, she earns two break points. Raducanu squanders the first with a forehand that is just long. Ruse saves the second with a blistering backhand down the line winner. Deuce.
Raducanu returns into the net and Ruse ends her streak of lost service games to take the lead in the set.
07:20 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 1-1 Ruse
Despite the scoreline, Ruse is still showing plenty of positive body language. She moves to 0-30 with some typical aggressive play.
Raducanu changes things up, uses her slice, mixes up the angles and pulls it back to 30-30. Defensive Raducanu backhand into the net, break point Ruse.
Raducanu first serve in and Ruse crushes a forehand down the line winner. Ruse breaks.
07:15 PM BST
Second set: Raducanu 6-2, 1-0 Ruse*
Raducanu will want to strike early here to really stamp her authority on the match. First set was 41 minutes and given the turnaround from Washington, she won’t want to spend longer than necessary on court.
Ruse nets a backhand after failing to break down Raducanu’s defences, break point. Raducanu digs out a return, the ball lands short on Ruse’s side. The Romanian moves up to the ball and sends her forehand wide.
Raducanu breaks to win her fifth game in a row.
07:09 PM BST
Raducanu* 6-2 Ruse
Better from Ruse as she gets after the Raducanu serve with some aggressive returns and moves to 0-30. Decent top-spin second serve by Raducanu draws the error from Ruse and levels the game.
Another Ruse return error and Raducanu has a set point. Ruse forehand long and Raducanu finishes off an impressive set.
First few games were tight but that allowed Raducanu to grow into the match and take control.
Emma Raducanu wins the first set against Elena-Gabriela Ruse! 🎾 pic.twitter.com/F5nkiHg5s8
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) July 28, 2025
07:03 PM BST
Raducanu 5-2 Ruse*
Good defence by Raducanu to keep herself in the rally and that extra ball is sent long by Ruse,15-30. Another ball by Ruse travels long and Raducanu has more break points at 15-40. Ruse first serve has deserted her in this game.
And for the second time, Ruse double-faults to gift Raducanu a break of serve.
06:58 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-2 Ruse
Important game for Raducanu to dig in, absorb the power from Ruse and consolidate the break. Ruse continues to tee off on every ball but is liable to make errors. That means Raducanu can get to 40-15 and hold to 30 with a forehand winner.
06:54 PM BST
Raducanu 3-2 Ruse*
Here comes Raducanu. She moves up to 0-40 very quickly after a couple of errors from Ruse. A second double fault of the game from the Romanian and Raducanu breaks.
06:51 PM BST
Raducanu* 2-2 Ruse
Ruse is trying to take time away from Raducanu and push the Briton behind the baseline. It is a battle for court position at the moment.
Double fault from Raducanu makes it deuce. She exchanges words with her coach, Mark Petche,y who tells her to get up to the ball on the toss.
The advice works because she holds serve to level the set.
06:45 PM BST
Raducanu 1-2 Ruse*
Ruse has certainly come to play in the early stages. Despite being 5’8” she packs plenty of power and blasts her way through another service game to hold.
06:42 PM BST
Raducanu* 1-1 Ruse
A feature of Raducanu’s play in Washington last week was her improved serve so we will keep an eye on those numbers tonight.
A Raducanu forehand hits the net cord and the ball drops on her side of the net, 15-30. A forehand long then gives Ruse two break points.
Raducanu saves the first with an unreturned first serve. And it is the same again on the second. A sigh of relief there. But she finds herself back under pressure when she shanks a forehand high and wide. Break point Ruse.
Saved by Raducanu after the longest rally of the match so far. Ruse is willing to go toe-to-toe with Raducanu from the baseline but eventually sends a forehand long.
Fourth break point comes and goes for Ruse. Then a fifth arrives when a deep return jams up Raducanu on the baseline. Clutch serving again by Raducanu keeps her alive in the game.
And finally Raducanu comes through the game when Ruse makes a return error. That was a key hold of serve.
06:31 PM BST
Emma Raducanu 0-1 Elena-Gabriela Ruse* (*denotes server)
Aggressive start by Raducanu. A couple of clean strikes and she’s up 0-30. Ruse responds to the early pressure with a forehand winner and unreturned first serve, 30-all.
And she comes through that test when Raducanu sends a return long.
06:27 PM BST
Here we go!
About to get underway in Montreal. Big smile from Raducanu as she walks onto the court. Sparse crowd on Centre Court.
It is 29C with 42 per cent humidity so it’s a warm one for the players. Raducanu won the coins and chose to receive.
Emma Raducanu is ready 💥💫
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) July 28, 2025
Stream her first round match in Canada on the Tennis Channel App now ✨#OBN25pic.twitter.com/wCSLHyINvB
06:23 PM BST
Raducanu on her improved form
I think I have just been doing a lot of work consistently, just putting a lot of tennis in. Sometimes even if you don’t feel good when you’re practicing because you’re doing a lot of hours and you don’t feel like you’re really pushing, it’s all kind of hours banked.
I’m also doing, I think, a lot more focused work, and also, I think I’m serving better, and that helps a lot. I think I always returned pretty decent, but the element of just when I serve well, it does add another dimension to my game. I’m able to kind of start the points better and look for my forehand and get that into play a bit more and then dictate.
06:13 PM BST
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06:03 PM BST
Raducanu makes Montreal debut
Hello and welcome to coverage of the Canadian Open as Emma Raducanu continues her preparations for next month’s US Open.
The new British No 1 returns to action after reaching the semi-finals of the Citi Open last week. Her run was ended by Anna Kalinskaya on Saturday evening so it will be a quick turnaround for the Briton in Montreal this evening.
Raducanu is up to 33 in the world, putting her on the verge of a top 32 seed for the final major of the season in New York. Speaking last week, Raducanu said she was pleased with how her competitiveness has improved this year.
“I think the areas I have improved I think, one, my competitiveness,” she said. “I think that’s one of my bigger strengths when I am focused and in the zone. And I think that’s something I found a lot more from, you know, March this year. I think I have been a lot more focused and competitive for each point and not being flat or defeated.
“And then I think the other thing, I think my serve has improved. Like, the last few matches I have been getting a lot more free points. And I know, like, whenever I have played well or had great results, that’s been working really well.
“Then also I think just movement of my defensive skills have probably been the biggest improvement. I think I’m able to kind of dig out some points and stay in the points and use a bit more hand skills, slice, get an extra ball back.
“I think it tends, not every point, but some really important moments, it can help. I think that has improved the most.”
Tonight, she faces a close friend in Elena-Gabriela Ruse, a 27-year-old from Romania. Their only previous meeting took place last year in Auckland when Raducanu needed three sets to get over the line.
Ruse did beat Australian Open champion Madison Keys at Wimbledon at the start of the month so she is more than capable of causing an upset.
Category: General Sports
