Former champion Emma Raducanu outclassed by ruthless Rybakina in US Open third round

No 9 seed Rybakina delivered a devastating display of big-hitting tennis to crush the former champion 6-1, 6-2 in just an hour and three minutes in Louis Armstrong Stadium at Flushing Meadows.

The third round encounter promised to be a blockbuster given the form of Raducanu, who dropped only three games in each of her first two matches.

Raducanu’s first two opponents, Ena Shibahara and Janice Tjen, were ranked 128th and 149th respectively, and it proved to be a monumental step-up against Rybakina - who won Wimbledon in 2022.

The 2021 US Open winner pushed World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka hard in matches in Cincinnati and Wimbledon in the past two months, but she was never in this contest against Rybakina.

The World No 36 lost her serve twice in each set and did not create a single break point against the big-serving Rybakina, despite the 26-year-old Kazakh landing just 47% of her first serves.

In her on-court interview, Rybakina said: "Really happy with the performance, it’s not easy playing against Emma.

"Sometimes the score doesn’t show, but she’s a tough competitor.

After her straight-sets defeat, Raducanu reflected on the challenges she faced and admitted she is still building towards the level needed to compete with the very best.

"That match was very difficult. I never really got a chance to settle or feel any rhythm," she said.

"I just felt that there were so few balls in play that when one was in play, I felt too much pressure to do something.

"A lot of work to do – especially against the top players – but, overall, I’m heading in the right direction."