Rank these USO wins: Raducanu ‘21, Andreescu ‘19, Osaka ‘18

[Kralingen]

3 first time Slam winners, all under 20 when they won their first Slam, and all strong HC runs.

1. Osaka USO 2018 - dropped only one set to Sabalenka: beat Serena in final 6-4, 6-2
2. Andreescu USO 2019 - dropped only one set to Townsend: beat Serena in final 6-3, 7-5
3. Raducanu USO 2021 - dropped zero sets as a qualifier, not even taken to a TB once, beat Fernandez in final 6-4, 6-3

vote based on level of play, as all were winners in relatively dominant fashion. Who played the best?

 

[Mainad]

Osaka and Andreescu both had to beat a multiple Grand Slam player and former champion in the final. On the other hand, Raducanu had to win 10 matches in order to take the title (3 qualifiers prior to the main draw) and never dropped a set in any of them.

 

[BGod]

Andreescu is top and I go with Osaka beating Serena over anyone Emma faced.

 

[Kralingen]

Got a controversial take here but I think it was Andreescu.

she straight up overpowered Serena, used variety, slices, touch, and came to the net better than the other two. Her level in that 1st set in the final was scary. Should really have been 6-3,6-1 but got tight when serving for the breadstick.

osaka also quite good but to my eyes that Serena was not moving as well and clearly mentally not all there.

no disrespect to Raducanu but the difference in weapons jumps off the screen when you watch Osaka (way more power) and Andreescu (more variety and better IQ) to me.

 

[Dolgopolov85]

If you took just the two tournaments and didn't tell me anything about Osaka's career, I would take Andreescu 2019. The semi against Bencic was super impressive too.

 

[ibbi]

Raducanu's is made by the fact that she came all the way through qualifying and dropped zero sets, but aside from Bencic I don't think she really beat anyone impressive the entire time. Mentally it was impressive seeing her handle that stage, but I think the other two have more going for them.

And they're tough to compare.

I think Serena herself is pretty comparable both years, so I wouldn't say either beat a considerably stronger one. Maybe I'd say she was a little better in 2018? I found Andreescu's run far better in general. I think the Wozniacki, Townsend and Bencic matches were great.

The major difference is that Bianca was the smart pick certainly from the moment she won in Canada, and the way she marched to the title regardless of pressure and expectation when she'd never done it before was incredible as anything else.

Osaka was super dominant aside from the Sabalenka match (and it's impressive she was that dominant when she got knocked out in the first round of both Canada and Cincinnati), but I also don't think she beat anyone really impressive prior to her last two rounds. I think her Indian Wells run that year was the far more impressive one.

TL;DR

1. Andreescu
2a. Osaka
2b. Raducanu

 

[Arak]

Beating Serena is still a very difficult task, like many young players can attest. She lost mobility and fitness, but her power is still scary. I would rank both Osaka and Andreescu wins as equal to each other and significantly above Raducanu.

 

[Deleted member 770948]

Raducanu didn't beat a top 10 player or former champion, so hard to take her title seriously.

 

[RaulRamirez]

All were somewhat epic, but how do you top - at age 18 - just on the tour and in your second-ever slam, after having to retire from Wimbledon - winning 10 straight matches in straights?

Osaka second. Serena was one year better than in 2019 - just a little more aura, if you will. Not only did she hit her off the court, but had to do so with the whole stadium riled up by SW's tirades.

 

[Kralingen]

I would add all 3 were better than Kenin at AO ‘20 or Sloane at USO ‘17 to my eyes. Anyone disagree with those?

 

[Aussie Darcy]

I would add all 3 were better than Kenin at AO ‘20 or Sloane at USO ‘17 to my eyes. Anyone disagree with those?

Sloane 2017 USO was pretty good.
Vinci 1R (finalist at the USO 2 years earlier)
#11 Cibulkova (reigning YEC champion at that point)
Barty (future #1)
#30 Gorges
#16 Sevastova
#9 Venus (Venus had the huge 2017 with the two slam finals of course and cracked back in the top 10)
#15 Keys

Raducanu did qualifying which is impressive but the only two names faced were Sakkari (meh) and #11 Bencic.