Emma Raducanu booked her place in the third round of the Canadian Open with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over American 32nd seed Peyton Stearns on Wednesday.
Emma Raducanu booked her place in the third round of the Canadian Open with a convincing 6-2, 6-4 victory over American 32nd seed Peyton Stearns on Wednesday.
Raducanu, who was born in Toronto, maintained her 100 per cent record against the world No 37 following victories in Washington and Tokyo last year.
After a dominant first set, which the Briton secured in 42 minutes, things got a little trickier in the second set after Stearns started to find her range on the forehand wing.
The American broke in the fifth game of the second set for a 3-2 lead, and consolidated in the next game, holding to 30, before Raducanu got back in the set with a strong service game of her own at 2-4.
The British No 1 was then able to take charge once again, as she attacked the Stearns serve and was always looking to take advantage of the American’s second delivery. Returning at 3-4 down, Raducanu pounced and broke the American.
Raducanu then played a classy service game to move 5-4 ahead which put all the pressure on the American who was tasked with holding serve to stay in the contest. Stearns was unable to do so however, as Raducanu ambushed the American and broke, taking the second set and the match 6-2, 6-4.
Raducanu, now 5-1 during this North American hard-court swing, awaits the winner between fifth seed Amanda Anisimova and Lulu Sun.
12:57 AM BST
Match point
Raducanu Magic 🪄@EmmaRaducanu moves into the next round as she defeats Stearns 6-2, 6-4.#OBN25pic.twitter.com/S1VfiZutdx
— wta (@WTA) July 30, 2025
12:46 AM BST
Raducanu wins 6-2, 6-4
Stearns wins the opening point before Raducanu eats up a second delivery from the American. Stearns then nets a backhand to fall 15-30 behind.
A great backhand return winner brings up two match points for the Briton. Stearns finds the line with a forehand to save the first but Raducanu then rips a forehand cross for a clean winner to seal victory.
Another convincing display from the British No 1!
12:40 AM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 5-4 Stearns
Raducanu gets things started with an ace before Stearns levels up at 15-15. A Raducanu double-fault gets the American to 15-30 and then 15-40, as Raducanu nets a backhand from the baseline. A good serve out wide sets up the point nicely for Raducanu, who puts a backhand away in the open court. A well-time ace then gets the Briton to deuce. Some good baseline play sees Raducanu get to advantage but Stearns wins the next point after finding the line with a whipped forehand.
Raducanu saves break point with a wicked forehand of her own before Stearns nets a return on the backhand wing to give Raducanu game point... and the Briton holds to put herself a game away from the third round.
12:33 AM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 4-4 Stearns*
At 15-0, Raducanu attacks the Stearns second serve and it pays off as the netcord helps the ball drop dead on the American’s side of the net. The Briton then wins the next two points in rapid succession to bring up two break points and she takes advantage at the first time of asking. Back on serve in set two!
12:28 AM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 3-4 Stearns
Raducanu throws down two good first serves to quickly get to 30-0. The Briton then double-faults as the score moves to 30-15. Stearns nets a return and then sprays a backhand wide which sees Raducanu secure the hold.
12:25 AM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 2-4 Stearns*
Stearns, looking to consolidate the break, wins the opening point before Raducanu draws level with a backhand return winner. Another huge return to the feet of Stearns moves the scoreboard to 15-30 before Stearns draws level at 30-30. Some more clean hitting from Stearns sees the American get to 40-30 and she holds for a 4-2 lead.
12:19 AM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 2-3 Stearns
At 15-15, Stearns finds her best return to go 15-30 ahead. Raducanu then double-faults to hand Stearns two break points. The Briton saves the first with a huge forehand cross-court winner but is unable to save the second as Stearns seizes the initiative in this second set.
12:15 AM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 2-2 Stearns*
Stearns, serving much better in this second set, races to a 30-0 lead before ripping a forehand down the line to go 40-0 up. Raducanu then gets on the board at 40-15 as the American double-faults but Stearns is able to hold.
12:10 AM BST
Raducanu* 6-2, 2-1 Stearns
Stearns, looking much more settled, goes 0-30 ahead before Raducanu throws down an ace down the T to get on the board at 15-30. The Briton then fires down another to go 30-30. Stearns then gets her first break-point look after ripping a forehand winner down the line, but the American is unable to take it as she goes long with a backhand slice. A nice serve-plus-one gets Raducanu to advantage, but the Briton double-faults in the next point to go back to deuce. A nice forehand then wrongfoots Stearns and Raducanu holds.
12:04 AM BST
Raducanu 6-2, 1-1 Stearns*
Stearns races to a 30-0 lead before Raducanu rips a forehand return for a clean winner to get on the board at 30-15. Stearns wins the next two points to close out the game to 15.
12:00 AM BST
Second set: Raducanu* 6-2, 1-0 Stearns
Stearns makes a promising start and goes 0-15 ahead before Raducanu draws level and takes a 30-15 lead. Stearns then gets to 30-30 after drawing an error from Raducanu. The Briton then sees the American go long with a forehand to go 40-30 ahead.
Raducanu, yet to face a break point in the contest, comes through the game to get things started in set two.
11:53 PM BST
Raducanu takes the first set 6-2
Stearns, serving to stay in the first set, gets on the board first as Raducanu goes wide with a return. The American then double-faults to bring Raducanu back in the game at 15-15. The Briton attacks the Stearns second serve again which pays off as it puts the Briton on the frontfoot. Stearns gets it back to 30-30 after some good defence, but then sees another forehand hit the net which gives Raducanu set point.
Stearns saves it with a forehand volley but then nets another groundstroke on the forehand wing to give Raducanu a second set point. Ace from Stearns brings the game back to deuce. Double-fault gives Raducanu her third set point. Another ace from Stearns gets the American back to deuce. Good serve-plus-one gives Stearns game point. The American is unable to seize the advantage but gets a second go soon after. That then passes the American by as she throws down a double fault.
Raducanu, on her sixth set point, gets it done as Stearns goes wide with a forehand from the baseline.
Leading the way 👊@EmmaRaducanu converts her sixth set point to take charge against Stearns, 6-2.#OBN25pic.twitter.com/HrH4RZkx5k
— wta (@WTA) July 30, 2025
11:37 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-2 Stearns
Raducanu finds her spot with a good first serve to get things started. Stearns then draws an error from the Briton to draw level before Raducanu sprays a forehand wide to fall 15-30 behind. Stearns then goes wide with a forehand from the baseline to move the scoreboard to 30-30. Some huge hitting from Raducanu pays off, as the Briton muscles a forehand for a clean winner to go 40-30. Stearns then nets from the baseline and Raducanu holds.
11:32 PM BST
Raducanu 4-2 Stearns*
Stearns wrongfoots Raducanu as she goes back behind the Briton to go 15-0. The American then gets to 30-0 and then 40-0 with an ace down the T. The American holds to love to stay in contention in this opening set.
11:29 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-1 Stearns
Second-serve ace gives Raducanu a 15-0 lead. The Briton then moves 30-0 ahead as Stearns nets a return. More big hitting from Raducanu sees the scoreboard move to 40-0... and Raducanu consolidates the break with an ace. Brilliant start from the Briton.
11:27 PM BST
Raducanu 3-1 Stearns*
Raducanu sneaks 0-15 ahead after attacking the second serve of Stearns. The American gets to 15-15 after drawing an error from the Briton, before Raducanu moves ahead again after taking advantage of a weak Stearns second delivery. Raducanu then goes 15-40 ahead after making good use of her backhand slice. Stearns double-faults and hands the British No 1 the first break.
11:20 PM BST
Raducanu* 2-1 Stearns
Raducanu races to 30-0 following two big first serves. Another good delivery sees the Briton get to 40-0, as Stearns goes long with her return. The Briton holds to love.
11:18 PM BST
Raducanu 1-1 Stearns*
The American nets a forehand to fall 0-15 behind. The 32nd seed then arrows a forehand down the line off the back of good first serve. Raducanu goes long from the baseline to fall 30-15 behind, before some good scrambling from the Briton gets her to 30-30. A big first serve is netted by Raducanu and Stearns holds with another forehand winner down the line.
11:14 PM BST
First set: Emma Raducanu* 1-0 Peyton Stearns
Raducanu wins the opening point before Stearns draws level at 15-15. The two then get into a drawn out baseline rally, which sees Raducanu come out on top before Stearns draws level at 30-30. Raducanu eventually closes out the game to 30.
11:06 PM BST
Coin toss
Stearns won the toss and elected to receive.
11:05 PM BST
Players are on court
Emma Raducanu and Peyton Stearns are on court and warming up.
10:57 PM BST
Osaka comes back from a set down
Back in Montreal, Naomi Osaka sealed an impressive comeback win against 13th seed Liudmila Samsonova.
PURE TENACITY 💪
— wta (@WTA) July 30, 2025
Naomi Osaka advances to the third round with a 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-3 victory against Samsonova!#OBN25pic.twitter.com/vHwlaC76Kh
10:42 PM BST
Norrie ousted in Toronto
Cameron Norrie, who was the last British man standing in Toronto, was knocked out by Australian Aleksandar Vukic earlier today.
Aleksandar Vukic knocks Cam Norrie out of the National Bank Open! 💥 pic.twitter.com/uo3il0Ep4j
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) July 30, 2025
The Briton was the 31st seed at the Masters 1000 event so receieved a first-round bye.
09:43 PM BST
Briton leads head-to-head 2-0
Good evening and welcome to third-round coverage of Emma Raducanu versus Peyton Stearns at the Canadian Open.
Raducanu is enjoying a good North American hard-court swing so far following her semi-final showing in Washington last week. The British No 1 won three matches in the American capital without dropping a set, before succumbing to eventual runner-up Anna Kalinskaya.
The world No 33 is playing in Montreal for only the second time in her career. Her first appearance at the WTA 1000 event, in 2022, ended in defeat to Italian Camila Giorgi in the second round – the Briton who was then ranked 10 in the world received a first-round bye as the ninth seed.
This year, an unseeded Raducanu started her campaign in the first round where she saw off good friend Elena-Gabriela Ruse in straight sets – 6-2, 6-4. Afterwards, the Briton spoke about how pleased she was to secure the win.
“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,” said the 22-year-old during her on-court interview. “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.”
Stearns, the American world No 37 who is the 32nd seed in Montreal, is searching for her first win on the North American hard courts following a first-round exit at the Citi Open last week. Stearns, 23, fell to 45-year-old seven-time grand slam champion Venus Williams in straight sets.
Raducanu leads the head-to-head 2-0 coming into this one. Those two matches were both played on hard courts last year, first in DC where Raducanu won 7-6, 6-2 and in Korea where the Briton secured victory in two tie-break sets.
Category: General Sports
