Elena Rybakina vs Emma Raducanu Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Raducanu backed for upset over ninth seed

Raducanu has endured a rough few years since she stunned the world by coming from qualifying to win her maiden Grand Slam title at the US Open in 2021. That remains Raducanu's lone title of any description, but the Brit has been gradually building back towards her best throughout 2025, helped by avoiding any injury problems. Raducanu has only dropped three games in each of her opening two rounds in New York and looks perfectly positioned to deliver a standout and statement performance against a top 10 seed here.

Rybakina hasn't really been at her best throughout the season and she has never performed well at the US Open - in fact, she's yet to go beyond the third round in New York. Rybakina needed to save four set points in the second set of her second round against 18-year-old World No. 96 Tereza Valentova, so that isn't the best form heading into this contest. This feels like the time for Raducanu to step up and re-announce herself as a contender for big titles.

Rybakina leads 1-0, absolutely crushing Raducanu 6-0 6-1 in Sydney back in 2022.

Rybakina has won a lot of matches this season, coming into this clash with a 43-16 record, but I also think it's fair to say she hasn't been at her best at any stage throughout 2025.

The Kazakh has responded well from the disappointment of a third round exit at Wimbledon, reaching the semi-finals of every tournament she's entered this summer.

Indeed, Rybakina has adanced to the final four in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati, but at the same time, she would have been disappointed not to have converted at least one of those runs into a final or title.

Rybakina was defeated by Leylah Fernandez, Victoria Mboko and Iga Swiatek in Washington, Montreal and Cincinnati respectively - and she was the big favourite in the first two.

Having never previously made the second week of the US Open, Rybakina has advanced to the third round without dropping a set, defeating wildcard Julieta Pareja 6-0 6-3 before overcoming another teenager in Tereza Valentova 6-3 7-6, saving four set points in the second set.

Raducanu heads into this encounter with a 26-17 record on the season and at No. 36 in the world, edging closer to a return to the top 30.

It's been a consistent season for Raducanu - her highlight was a run to the Miami Open quarter-finals, while she's also made the R16 in Rome, the third round at Wimbledon and the semi-finals of Washington to launch her summer.

The Brit also made the third round of both Montreal and Cincinnati, where it took top 10 players in Amanda Anisimova and Aryna Sabalenka to stop her.

Returning to the site of her historic title triumph, Raducanu has been ruthlessly efficient so far this US Open, defeating qualifiers Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen for the loss of a combined six games.