BBC Sport · Nov 18, 2025
Why Raducanu v Osaka whets the appetite for 2026
Image caption, Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka have only played each other once beforeEmma Raducanu describes Naomi Osaka as "pure speed", while the Japanese star said earlier this year that the British player has "a royal air around her".
Theirs is a mighty rivalry in waiting, barely off the ground but rich in potential, and for just the second time in their careers they are set to play each other.
It should happen at their first tournament of 2026, the United Cup team event in Australia.
Raducanu and Osaka both achieved huge success at a young age, and finding a way back to Grand Slam-winning level has not been easy for either player.