British No 1 Continues to Impress with Supreme Serving Performance and Growing Confidence

Emma Raducanu has sent a resounding message at the US Open, dispatching unheralded opponent Janice Tjen 6-2, 6-1 to reach the third round of the tournament. Raducanu’s impressive performance marked her second consecutive dominant win, further solidifying her status as a force to be reckoned with in the competition.

In a challenging match against an opponent whose ranking belies her form and quality, Raducanu showed no signs of nerves or hesitation. With a supreme serving performance, she was able to dictate the points and dominate the play, leaving Tjen struggling to keep up. Raducanu’s confidence behind her serve was evident, and it allowed her to swing more freely on her groundstrokes, putting Tjen’s excellent backhand slice under relentless pressure.

The British No 1’s ability to adapt to her opponent’s style and play at a high level from the beginning was a testament to her growth and improvement. Raducanu has been working on improving the quality of her shotmaking, and this match showcased significant progress in that area. Her serving, cleanliness of groundstrokes, and ability to bully a lower-ranked opponent from on top of the baseline demonstrated that she continues to make strides in her game.

Tjen, who has been on a remarkable run, compiled a 95-10 record over the past 15 months, rising from being unranked last June to No 149 in the world. Her playing style bears a striking resemblance to that of Ash Barty, with a potent, spinny forehand and a nasty, varied backhand slice. However, Raducanu was able to exploit Tjen’s weaknesses, using her cross-court backhand to put pressure on the Indonesian’s backhand corner.

Raducanu’s confidence behind her serve was a key factor in her success, and she credited her serving performance with “seeping into the rest of her game.” Her ability to dictate the points and play to her strengths was evident, and she was able to force herself even further inside the baseline, taking bigger cuts of the ball earlier in the point.

With two emphatic wins against two qualifiers, Raducanu now awaits the winner of the second-round match between Elena Rybakina, the ninth seed and 2022 Wimbledon champion, and another qualifier in Tereza Valentova. The third round will undoubtedly provide a greater measure of Raducanu’s level, and she will look to continue her impressive form in the days to come.

Raducanu’s post-match comments highlighted her growing confidence, stating that she was “particularly happy” with her performance and felt that she was able to dictate the points and play to her strengths. When asked about her opponent’s strengths, Raducanu praised Tjen’s level of play, saying that she was “very dangerous” and that any ball she put “midcourt was going to be punished.” Raducanu’s ability to adapt to her opponent’s style and play at a high level from the beginning was a testament to her growth and improvement, and fans will be eager to see how she performs in the coming rounds.