Emma Raducanu battles past injuries, on her way to a probable QF clash with Iga Swiatek


Emma Raducanu battles past injuries, on her way to a probable QF clash with Iga Swiatek

Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu overcame Storm Sanders in straight sets to advance to the second round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix event in Stuttgart. Raducanu, the US Open champion, defeated Australian qualifier Sanders 6-1 6-2 in her WTA Tour clay-court debut. After sustaining a blister on her foot when playing for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup in Prague last weekend, the 19-year-old, seeded eighth in Stuttgart, showed no signs of discomfort.

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“I’m just really enjoying my tennis at the moment”- Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu | Stuttgart Open | Tennis News | FirstSportz
Emma Raducanu

The eighth seed said after the match, “At the US Open I think the biggest thing was just having zero expectation and just going out there and having fun every single match, having a swing and I think that’s something that overtime I’ve definitely developed and starting to do more and more. I’m just really enjoying my tennis at the moment.”

She further added, “I feel like there were many long, long deuce games so I’m very happy to have battled through against Storm. She’s played two matches in qualifying but she’s a great opponent, we played last year and it was extremely tricky so I’m just really happy to have somehow found a way to come through those long games and put on a good performance.”

Emma Raducanu has been plagued by illness and injuries this season, and she revealed last week that she wasn’t sure she’d be ready for the tournament. “This time last week I was practicing in Prague and I genuinely didn’t know how to move,” she said. “The fitness trainer was teaching me how to slide using a medicine ball. So I’m really pleased with how I’ve improved in a week.”

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Emma Raducanu might face Iga Swiatek in the quarter-final

Emma Raducanu | Stuttgart Open | Tennis News | FirstSportz
Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu broke the game in the fourth and sixth games of the first set, and she was unstoppable on the serve, sinking 83% of her first serves. Raducanu won the second set in a similar manner, going up a break in the first service game before moving up a double break in the fifth. On her second match point, the 19-year-old clinched the victory. Nevertheless, the Brit will play Germany’s lucky loser Tamara Korpatsch in the round of 16. If Raducanu wins that match she will face Poland’s world number one Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals.

Also Read: “Clay is going to be my surface” Emma Raducanu excited to taste the clay on Tour