'She took advantage': Emma Raducanu shares why beating Peyton Stearns 'means so much' at Canadian Open

Britain’s Emma Raducanu has faced criticism for being inconsistent on the tour. That has somewhat changed in the recent past. Raducanu is currently featuring in the Canadian Open, where she secured her spot in the round of 32 after beating America’s Peyton Stearns in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-4. It was the 22-year-old’s 21st win in 36 matches in 2025.

The win was an important one for Raducanu as it is now the third consecutive event where the former world number 10 has secured at least two wins. At Wimbledon, Raducanu’s journey ended in the third round after losing to world number one Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-4.

At the DC Open, Raducanu produced a more impressive run and eventually lost in the semifinal to Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-3. The series of results proved Raducanu’s words after suffering a defeat at Wimbledon, where she stated that she is leaving the competition full of confidence, knowing fully well that she is improving as a player every day.

“It does give me confidence because I think the problem before was that I felt like I was gulfs away from the very top,” said Raducanu back then. “Having a match like that where I had chances in both sets, it does give me confidence. At the same time, it’s very difficult to take right now. It gives me confidence that I’m not as far away as I perhaps thought before the tournament. I think before previously when I was playing those top-5 players, it was pretty convincing, the loss. To really push Aryna to the top, it gives me confidence. But at the same time, like, I feel like grass for me is a great surface. It’s a bit of a leveller in that sense. So I think taking it onto a different surface, where it’s a lot more lively in America is another challenge in itself. Positives were that I was toe to toe with her. Before the match, I actually went into this match feeling more confident than in previous matches against the top, but I think there is a big difference in the first serve.”

Impressive consistency

Raducanu spoke to the media after the match in Montreal, where she spoke about how she was ‘very happy’ after securing a win against a ‘top opponent’. Raducanu revealed that she lost ‘focus’ in the second set but still managed to get over the line. Raducanu also highlighted why staying alive in the competition means so much to her.

"I'm really happy with how I came through in that match,” said Raducanu. "I kind of lost my focus at some moments in the second set, and she took advantage, but very happy that I came through against a top opponent and happy to extend my stay in Montreal. I just want to say thank you [to supporters], I saw the Union Jack in clutch moments, and I was actually born in Canada, so to me it means so much to do well here."

Raducanu’s next opponent will be America’s Anisimova. The 23-year-old, who is playing in her first competition after suffering a heartbreaking defeat in the final of Wimbledon to Poland’s Iga Swiatek, defeated New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 7-6. It will be the third meeting between the two players in professional tennis. In the previous two meetings, Raducanu had a clear advantage as she won on both occasions. Their most recent meeting came earlier this year during a WTA event in Miami where Raducanu came out on top in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-3.