The first women's singles round of 16 at the US Open was decided amid an upset, with Raducanu humorously said to have shattered her glass slipper.

The first women's singles round of 16 at this year's US Open has been determined, yet fans and online viewers expressed difficulty in accepting how it came about!

What would unfold in the match between Raducanu and Rybakina? This contest between two Grand Slam champions was initially seen as a collision of worlds, with the assumption that whoever triumphed would have to endure a tough battle.

The reason this match was predicted to end in an exceptionally intense and brutal manner is that both Rybakina and Raducanu have significantly elevated their performances compared to before.

Since the controversial coach Vukov was reinstated to guide Rybakina, the Kazakh beauty's form, mindset, and resilience have noticeably improved, earning praise as having finally regained her strong mental support.

Raducanu also showed signs of a strong comeback after the addition of Nadal’s veteran coach Roig. Especially in the Cincinnati Masters against world No.1 Sabalenka, she turned what was expected to be a one-sided match into a thrilling contest. She nearly caused a major upset, prompting some fans and netizens to exclaim, "The princess is back; looks like she's ready to showcase her glass slipper at Flushing Meadows."

Before the match, Raducanu openly acknowledged Rybakina’s victory over Sabalenka in Cincinnati, admitting this match wouldn’t be easy. “I have to draw confidence from my matches against Sabalenka in Cincinnati and at Wimbledon.”

Another reason for the British player’s strong confidence is her continuous effort to close the gap with the top players.

All these signs made everyone believe the duel between Raducanu and Rybakina was unmissable. Some even humorously commented, “Missing this might mean waiting a thousand years,” showing how much attention this match attracted.

Once the match started, while everyone anticipated a fierce battle to see whether the British girl’s mighty sword or the Kazakh beauty’s dragon-slaying blade would dominate, the very first game of the opening set already caused disappointment, falling short of the hype.

Raducanu seemed off from the start, playing like an amateur. She was overwhelmed by Rybakina early on and looked lost. If she hadn’t fought hard to hold serve in the fourth game, the first set score would likely have been 0-6 instead of 1-6.

The British player's swift defeat in the first set led some viewers in the live chat to joke that Raducanu’s mighty sword must have rusted and wasn’t sharpened, or else how could such a high-profile match turn into her own disaster? “Nana’s dragon-slaying blade isn’t even needed anymore; it’s just a waste. Why use a legendary weapon to kill a chicken?”

Despite judging from Raducanu’s poor first set that she might lose the second set as well, some supporters believed she would change her game in the next set. “The princess hasn’t put on her glass slipper yet; once she does, Emma will definitely be different.”

Raducanu’s performance in the second set was indeed different from the first, but the biggest change was only that she won one more game than in the first set.

After Rybakina swept Raducanu 6-1, 6-2, the Kazakh beauty became the first woman to reach the round of 16 at this US Open. The only surprise was how quickly—just 62 minutes—she advanced, with Raducanu’s severe collapse at Flushing Meadows as the backdrop, which shocked many!

After the match, some commented bluntly on Raducanu’s performance, calling it a disaster on her home turf. She didn’t earn a single break point against Rybakina and seemed unable to execute even the basic professional skill of changing the ball’s direction, repeatedly overwhelmed and defenseless against the Kazakh’s attacks.

Some netizens harshly described Raducanu’s poor showing as “the princess’s glass slipper shattered,” implying that without the slipper’s shine, she couldn’t sparkle on the court.

Others joked about the British player, saying that since Raducanu’s Cinderella story in 2021 at the US Open when she defeated Fernandez and became a princess, her glass slipper has gradually cracked until it finally broke. Since then, she hasn’t produced any notable performances at the US Open, so reaching this stage at Flushing Meadows this year is considered significant progress.

“We must look at the overall progress over several months from a broader perspective. It would be a pity to get discouraged by one loss. I will regroup and actively prepare for the Asian tournaments.” Compared to the public’s disappointment, Raducanu herself maintained a positive mindset after losing, saying it was just one defeat and she values her progress without dwelling on it.

However, fans and netizens feel that while Raducanu believes the gap between her and the top players is narrowing, this crushing defeat at the hands of Rybakina clearly shows the gap is much larger than expected!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moonlit Starry Sky)