Emma Raducanu is set to make waves as she steps onto the court for her much-anticipated China Open debut in 2025, a moment that has been four years in the making since her sensational breakthrough in 2021. The event has been absent from the calendar for two years, primarily due to the fallout from COVID-19 restrictions and the WTA Tour’s boycott of the country. Raducanu faced her own hurdles, missing the tournament in 2023 and 2024 due to injury setbacks. Now, the world No. 32 is ready to reclaim her place in the spotlight at this prestigious WTA 1000 event, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing second-round exit at the Korea Open.
In her opening match, Raducanu will face a familiar adversary, Cristina Bucsa, an opponent she has come to know well over the past year. Bucsa, who boasts a fascinating athletic lineage — her father, Ion, represented Moldova as a biathlete in the Winter Olympics — has carved out her own path in the tennis world. After relocating to Spain at the age of three, she began competing under the Spanish flag in 2015. While she may have flown under the radar until recently, the past 18 months have marked a significant turning point in her career.
Though Bucsa has yet to reach a tour-level singles final, her doubles prowess is undeniable. With seven WTA Tour doubles titles to her name, including six won since the start of the previous season, she has made a notable impact. Her most significant achievement came at the WTA 1000 Madrid Open last spring, where she triumphed alongside compatriot Sara Sorribes Tormo, and together they clinched an Olympic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games. Bucsa’s doubles journey also includes a final appearance at the Miami Open this year and a quarter-final run at the 2024 Australian Open.
Fresh off her best Grand Slam performance to date, reaching the fourth round of the US Open mere weeks ago, Bucsa is riding high on confidence. She navigated through a challenging draw, defeating Claire Liu, Alex Eala, and 19th seed Elise Mertens before her run was halted by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Bucsa also made headlines at Wimbledon in 2025, stunning 2024 semi-finalist Donna Vekic in the second round, and currently sits at 67th in the global rankings, just shy of her career-high of 56th achieved in January 2024.
The upcoming match marks the third encounter between Raducanu and Bucsa in 2025, with their previous meetings showcasing a stark contrast in play styles and outcomes. Their first clash took place at the Singapore Tennis Open, where Bucsa emerged victorious after an epic three-hour battle, winning 5-7, 7-5, 7-5. However, their second meeting saw Raducanu dominate on grass at the Queen’s Club, securing a swift 6-1, 6-2 victory in just 64 minutes.
As anticipation builds for this exciting face-off, details regarding the match’s start time and court location have yet to be confirmed, but fans can expect it to unfold on Saturday, alongside other second-round matches in the women’s singles draw. The winner will advance to face either Ajla Tomljanovic or fifth seed Jessica Pegula in the third round, making this a must-watch event for tennis enthusiasts eager to see how both players will perform under pressure.
