Why is Emma Raducanu playing doubles in Washington? Which former Wimbledon champion is her star partner? Who does Brit face in quarter-finals?
Updated 25/07/2025 at 08:37 GMT+1
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Emma Raducanu is continuing her preparation for next month’s US Open by competing in both the singles and doubles at Washington's DC Open. The 22-year-old British No. 3 is set to face former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka in the singles competition. Meanwhile, in the doubles, she is teaming up with a former Wimbledon champion in preparation for her US Open partnership with Carlos Alcaraz.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
Emma Raducanu continues her preparation for next month’s US Open by competing in both the singles and doubles at the DC Open in Washington.
In the singles, the British No. 3 claimed a straight-sets win over seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in her first match since a narrow third round Wimbledon loss to world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Raducanu followed that up with an even better triumph over four-time major champion Naomi Osaka, as the Brit declared she is increasingly feeling "more comfortable" in herself.
Next for the Briton is a quarter-final clash with Maria Sakkari, with the pair's head-to-head standing at 3-0 to Raducanu.
As well as her impressive singles run in Washington, Raducanu has embarked on a doubles tie-up that has been progressing just as well.
Who is Raducanu’s doubles partner?
Raducanu surprised much of the tennis world by teaming up with world No. 12 and 2022 Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina in DC.
Raducanu has only made a handful of doubles appearances in her career, most recently teaming up with Katie Boulter at Queen’s. The all-British pair were knocked out in the second round by first seeds Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok.
Rybakina also has limited doubles experience, but similarly partnered with compatriot Yulia Putintseva at Queen’s. The pair fell in the quarter-finals to Demi Schuurs and Asia Muhammad.
Raducanu and Rybakina beat Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova 2-6 7-6 11-9 in their last-16 encounter, and followed that up with a quarter-final victory over Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi.
Next for the British-Kazakh partnership is a semi-final meeting with Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai.
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Why is Raducanu playing doubles in Washington?
Both Raducanu and Rybakina will be using the doubles tournament as a means of transitioning from the grass-court season to hard courts and gaining match rhythm ahead of the US Open.
Doubles provides an opportunity for both players to adapt to the surface, which could prove valuable should either face an early elimination in the singles, while Raducanu - as she said after her doubles tie-up with Boulter at Queen's - revealed how pleased she had been to work on her net game especially.
Moreover, Raducanu is planning to play mixed doubles at the US Open alongside Carlos Alcaraz, so her matches with Rybakina will be good preparation.
Rybakina is also competing in the mixed doubles at the US Open, with the 26-year-old teaming up with Taylor Fritz.
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