Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Emma Raducanu & Elena Rybakina Retire from Doubles, Crash Out in Singles at 2025 Citi DC Open Semifinals

Raducanu and Rybakina’s Citi DC Open run ends with a retirement and back-to-back semifinal defeats.

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina’s joint run at the Citi DC Open ended on a deflating note Saturday, as the pair retired mid-match in their doubles semifinal due to heat-related illness. Later, both suffered grueling defeats in their respective singles semifinals too. The physical toll of Washington’s oppressive summer conditions proved too much, derailing a week that had otherwise promised revival and momentum for both players.

Doubles Withdrawal Marks the First Crack

Yesterday, Raducanu and Rybakina, teaming up for the first time on the WTA Tour, were forced to withdraw from their doubles semifinal against Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai after falling behind 1-4 in the opening set. The decision came just 25 minutes into the match, following two early service breaks and a visibly labored effort from the British-Kazakh duo.

Elena Rybakina and Emma Raducanu retire from their doubles SF against Townsend & Zhang in Washington.

Not super surprising, considering both are still in the SF of singles & Emma had a tough match in the heat today.

It was a fun ride, Rybacanu. ❤️

🇰🇿🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/Jz7JFAluA0
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 26, 2025

Raducanu, who had played a draining singles quarterfinal against Maria Sakkari just hours prior, acknowledged the brutal conditions. “It was brutal today,” she said during her on-court interview. “Thanks to everyone for coming out and sitting through the heat.” She added later that she was “not feeling the best” and had even required medical attention to check her vitals during the previous match.

Interestingly, the pairing wasn’t spontaneous. Raducanu revealed that she and Rybakina had initially planned to team up three years ago in Cincinnati, but the idea only came to fruition this week after a recent practice session rekindled the conversation.

Raducanu and Rybakina Fall Short in Singles Fight

Raducanu and Rybakina both returned for their singles semifinals, only to run into fresher, fiercer opposition. Raducanu was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by Russia’s Anna Kalinskaya, unable to convert any of her four break point chances despite starting strong with five early aces.

Ok that is AWESOME 👏@EmmaRaducanu 🚀 #MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Xriza89mdC
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 26, 2025

Kalinskaya, ranked two spots below Raducanu, seized the momentum in each set with timely breaks and composed baseline play. “It’s nice to play against Emma,” Kalinskaya said post-match. “I’m proud of myself. I stayed aggressive and stuck to my plan.”

Rybakina, meanwhile, endured a brutal three-set loss to Leylah Fernandez 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) in a match that lasted over three hours and featured no service breaks. It was Fernandez’s first win over the Kazakh and sets up a final clash with Kalinskaya.

A thunderous backhand from Rybakina 💥#MubadalaCitiDCOpen pic.twitter.com/Rqww0hOcMP
— Mubadala Citi DC Open (@mubadalacitidc) July 26, 2025

For Raducanu and Rybakina, Saturday in D.C. was less about tactics and more about survival, to be honest.

Mandatory Image Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Citi DC Open 2025

Elena Rybakina

Emma Raducanu

Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.