Osaka vs Raducanu Prediction United Cup 1/4/2026 Today’s Tennis Picks

Former US Open champions Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu clash in Japan’s tie against Great Britain at the 2026 United Cup. The match is scheduled for Sunday, January 4. Here’s our Naomi Osaka vs Emma Raducanu prediction. This preview will also include a Naomi Osaka vs Emma Raducanu pick.

Tournament Details

Tournament name: United Cup
Host cities: Perth, Sydney
Date: 2 – 11 January 2026
Field: 18 countries
Total prize money: $11,806,190

Naomi Osaka vs Emma Raducanu Preview

Naomi Osaka suffered a shock loss to Maria Sakkari in the opening tie, which Japan eventually lost 3-0. Japan relied heavily on Osaka’s win in singles, and that did not come to fruition as the four-time Grand Slam champion put in a flat performance in 6-4, 6-2 defeat in 94 minutes. In the defeat, Osaka hit 1 ace and 3 double faults. She landed 59% of first serves and only won 50% of first serve points (18/36).

Osaka won 52% of second serve points (13/25) and her serving woes were compounded by the fact that she was broken four times during the match. Sakkari totally dominated the baseline with athleticism and agility and frequently pushed the Japanese star on the back foot with her searing backhand. 

Emma Raducanu, for her part, is set for her debut in the United Cup. Great Britain will be captained by Tim Henmann. Last year, they made it to the quarterfinal stage. Raducanu has recovered from a lower back injury that ended his season in Ningbo last year. 

Overall, there were some positives to pick from 2025 for the 2021 US Open champion. She played in all four Grand Slam main draws and achieved a trio of third-round finishes Her losses at the majors all came against top 5 opposition, in another reminder that it takes some of the very best to beat Raducanu. With Raducanu now firmly in the top 30, she is assured a seeding spot at the Australian Open later this month and that could potentially give her a kinder draw in the first week.

Naomi Osaka vs Emma Raducanu Head-To-Head

Osaka and Raducanu met for the first time at the 2025 Citi Open. Raducanu ran out a 6-4, 6-2 winner in that match.

Naomi Osaka vs Emma Raducanu Prediction

We will likely get a reaction from Osaka after a poor performance against Sakkari. It was flat and surprising and Osaka’s serve did not keep her in the match at all. When she can barely win half of her first serve points, you know she is struggling. But historically, she’s responded well after performances like that. If Osaka’s serve functions effectively and plays aggressively, she will control most of the patterns in this rubber. Raducanu’s level can fluctuate from week to week and season to season, and this being her first match after the lower back injury, I wouldn’t be too confident she can trouble Osaka.

Nur Said's Pick: Naomi Osaka in three sets