Emma Raducanu secured her first-ever semifinal spot at the Washington Open with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Greece’s Maria Sakkari in a match played under sweltering conditions.
After dropping the opening game, Raducanu lost her serve but immediately broke back. She gained another advantage at 4-3 after Sakkari mishit a drop-volley, though the Greek player leveled again due to a double fault from Raducanu. Regaining control, the British player held serve to claim the first set.
The 22-year-old, aiming to extend her dominance over Sakkari on the Greek’s 30th birthday, faced a challenge in the second set when Sakkari surged ahead 4-2. With temperatures reaching 36°C, Raducanu received a medical check during a brief pause. However, the interruption seemed to help the 2021 US Open champion, who won five consecutive games to seal the match in two hours and 10 minutes.
"This win builds on my progress since Miami," Raducanu said. "The effort I’ve put in off the court gives me confidence. Knowing I’ve done the work eases some of the pressure during matches."
She added, "It was a tough contest—Maria played well, and the conditions suited her aggressive style. I’m glad I fought through it."
Raducanu will next compete against either Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya for a place in the final.
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