Slowly, surely and with a thrilling robustness once lacking in a start-stop-restart career, the all-new Emma Raducanu is on the rise. The Raducanu reset is on the threshold of its most tangible reward after a quarter-final victory in gruelling conditions over powerful Greek Maria Sakkari.
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Grit and steel are not descriptions often associated with Raducanu since her breakthrough, but those qualities were in abundance in a 6-4, 7-5 victory, the second set absorbing a recovery from 2-5 down and a brief medical time-out.
“It was brutal. It is incredibly difficult playing in the heat,” Raducanu said, justifiably proud of the resilience and mentality that dragged her over the line.
After the brilliance of her victory in the first two rounds at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, it became apparent early on that this was an examination of Raducanu’s stamina.
“I’m happy to have toughed it out,” she said. “It is physical and if you don’t have the abilities the body fails you. Then, at a certain point, it becomes mental. It was such a long match. You just have to enjoy suffering and leave it out on the court until you drop.”
Progression to the semi-finals in Washington means a seeding at the upcoming US Open is in her sights. It has taken time and the endurance of growing pains on and off the court, but Raducanu suddenly looks equipped physically and mentally for the sapping tour schedule.
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With such form it must be a question of when, not if, she adds to her sole, life-changing singles title.
The next victory may not be another grand slam, but do not downplay the significance if it turns out to be this tournament. Should she win her next two matches, it would be a surprise if she were not as emotional as when winning the 2021 US Open given the journey she has been on since.
Back then, it all seemed so quick and easy amid the naivety of being a teenage sensation. The loftiest expectations have become as much of a burden as a blessing over the past three years. Symbolically, the next trophy presentation will surely feel just as personally satisfying if it accelerates and stabilises Raducanu’s current upward trajectory, even if it is historically incomparable to those dizzying heights of Flushing Meadows.
During the course of this season, it feels like the penny has dropped with the force of one of Raducanu’s expertly delivered first serves, which are more frequent on the clutch points.
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Amid the flamboyance of immense talent there is now a business-like demeanour, the positive body language a marked contrast to when every muscle twinge prompted fears of another injury setback. That was never so apparent over two hours against Sakkari.
Maria Sakkari is yet to win a set against the Briton, having now lost all four of their enounters – Getty Images/Scott Taetsch
Raducanu had won the pair’s three previous meetings, but this was a dynamic, in-form Sakkari, who saw the Briton as a potential major scalp. The former US Open champion had to withstand a barrage against the woman she had defeated in the semi-final en route to her major victory.
Sakkari’s game is more brawn than beauty, and she began with the intent of muscling Raducanu off the court. The Briton’s temperament came to the fore as much as the conditioning work with trainer Yutaka Nakamura – now so visibly yielding positive results.
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Holding serve was an ordeal for both players at the end of an hour-long first set, a combination of heat and nerves taking a toll. Raducanu emerged victorious, her much-improved delivery ensuring she was able to overcome the occasionally ill-timed double fault.
But Sakkari responded, breaking Raducanu in the sixth game of the second set before swatting away two break points to take a 5-2 lead.
Just as it seemed Raducanu would reserve her energy for the decider, she fought back, breaking, before requesting the trainer check her blood pressure as the temperatures soared.
“I felt a bit wobbly towards the end of the second set,” she said in her on-court interview. Raducanu promptly broke again, serving it out to take her place in the last four.
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It is tempting to consider Raducanu’s re-emergence as ticking a series of moderate goals before setting sights higher. Establishing full fitness has been fundamental – that has markedly improved.
The next well-publicised move was to rid the youngster of the parasites who inevitably clung to her and saw the dollar signs following her major victory. A closer, trusted circle of friends and advisors are drilling home the message that once excellence on the court is compulsory, commercial rewards off it will take care of themselves.
Now we are in the stability stage. Results can never be guaranteed in elite sport, but performance levels should be. A consistent Raducanu is a threat to everyone in the top 20.
With more runs to the business end of tournaments, Raducanu will be firmly re-established as the British No 1, having recently taken back that status. Injury permitting, that should be hers for the next 10 years. Naturally, she and those who know how good she is want far more.
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With each step and hard-fought win against players of such pedigree as Sakkari, she is edging closer towards the career everyone expected and hoped for.
07:30 PM BST‘I’m doing a lot of good work behind the scenes’07:24 PM BSTRaducanu survives the heat in DC07:20 PM BSTRaducanu wins 6-4, 7-5!
Raducanu, serving for the match, wins the opening point. Sakkari then gets to 15-15 with a nice backhand winner. The Briton then shows off her great touch to move 30-15 ahead, and then 40-15 after a big first serve. Two match points!
And Raducanu gets it done! The 22-year-old wildcard is through to the semi-finals in Washington for the first time.
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A brilliant performance from the Briton!
07:15 PM BSTPure persistence from Raducanu
Pure persistence from Raducanu secures the break. Was not sure there was much left in the tank as Raducanu might have been tempted to keep her energy reserves for the decider.
07:14 PM BSTRaducanu 6-4, 6-5 Sakkari*
Sakkari quickly falls 0-30 behind after simultaneous unforced errors. The Greek then scoops away a short forehand on the slide to get on the board at 15-30. Sakkari carefully watches another short ball before putting it away to move to 30-30. A wild forehand sees Raducanu get to 30-40 and the Briton breaks!
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A remarkable turnaround!
07:09 PM BSTRaducanu* 6-4, 5-5 Sakkari
Raducanu finds a big first serve to get things started, then goes 30-0 ahead after a long rally. Another big serve brings up three game points for the Briton and she holds to love to level things up.
07:05 PM BSTPhysio called to court
Raducanu is receiving medical attention. Briton is getting her heart rate checked.
07:02 PM BSTRaducanu 6-4, 4-5 Sakkari*
Sakkari goes long with a forehand in the opening point. The Greek then finds a nice backhand down the line to level things up before Raducanu sneaks 15-30 ahead. The Briton shows her patience in a long rally and eventually draws an error from Sakkari to move 15-40 ahead. Sakkari saves the first break point and the second with a big first serve out wide.
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On her fourth break point, Raducanu takes it! And we are back on serve again in set two.
06:55 PM BSTRaducanu* 6-4, 3-5 Sakkari
Raducanu, serving to stay in the second set, gets to 40-15 before double-faulting. An ace sees the Briton hold to 30. Now over to Sakkari to see if she can serve out this second set.
06:50 PM BSTRaducanu 6-4, 2-5 Sakkari*
Raducanu races to a 0-30 lead before Sakkari takes the pace off a first serve which catches the Briton out. Raducanu then gets two break point-point looks. She is unable to take the first after netting a return, then goes wide on the backhand wing as the scoreboard moves to deuce. Sakkari then throws down two aces to move one game away from taking this match into a deciding third set.
06:45 PM BSTSakkari capable of producing unstoppable winners
Sakkari is the more erratic player – she’s capable of gifting points away, but then ups the ante with unstoppable winners. Raducanu is supposed to be playing doubles later. If this match goes into a third she may need carrying onto the court.
06:44 PM BSTRaducanu* 6-4, 2-4 Sakkari
Sakkari crushes a forehand winner down the line before Raducanu gets to 15-15 following a good first serve. Another strong first delivery sees Raducanu get to 30-15, before Sakkari finds a nice angle on the backhand wing to get to 30-30. Break point Sakkari as Raducanu nets a backhand.
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Huge T-serve saves break point for Raducanu. A double-fault brings up a second break point for Sakkari but Raducanu fends her off. Break point No 3 for Sakkari as Raducanu goes long from the baseline. Sakkari nets a backhand approach as the game goes back to deuce.
Fourth break point for Sakkari as Raducanu goes long with a forehand. And this time, Sakkari breaks!
06:33 PM BSTRaducanu 6-4, 2-3 Sakkari*
Raducanu races to a 0-30 lead after a long exchange in the first point and a Sakkari double-fault in the second. The Greek then wins the next two points to get to 30-30 before further upping her level to move 40-30 ahead. Sakkari holds to maintain her lead in set two.
06:30 PM BSTRaducanu* 6-4, 2-2 Sakkari
Sakkari comes out on top after a drawn out rally to start things off in this fourth game in set two. The Greek then goes big on the next point and it pays off as she moves 0-30 ahead. Raducanu gets on the board as Sakkari goes wide from the baseline and then gets to 30-30 after drawing another error from her opponent. The Briton then sees the score move to 40-30 after hanging in a long rally and secures the hold from 0-30 down.
06:24 PM BSTRaducanu 6-4, 1-2 Sakkari*
Sakkari puts away a short ball on the backhand wing before Raducanu draws level at 15-15. The Greek then shows off her quick instincts in the next few points before closing out the game to 15.
06:21 PM BSTRaducanu* 6-4, 1-1 Sakkari
Raducanu races to a 30-0 lead after some good play from the baseline, before Sakkari cracks a forehand return down the line for a clean winner. Another good serve to the body sees the Greek go long with the return to hand Raducanu two game points. The Briton seals the game with an ace.
06:18 PM BSTSecond set: Raducanu 6-4, 0-1 Sakkari*
Sakkari gets the second set started with a good hold to 30.
06:15 PM BSTFirst set all about fighting spirit
Raducanu played brilliant tennis in her first two rounds in Washington. That first set was all about her fighting spirit. Not sure we’d have seen that ability to withstand a physical barrage in tough conditions this time last year.
06:12 PM BSTRaducanu wins set one 6-4
Raducanu, serving for the first set, wins the opening point before Sakkari draws level at 15-15. A good serve to the body moves the scoreboard to 30-15. An ace brings up two set points! Sakkari saves one with a forehand winner down the line but is unabele to save the second.
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Advantage Raducanu in this quarter-final!
06:08 PM BSTFatigue a factor for the server
Fatigue a huge factor for the player serving. It’s going to feel like a gruelling journey ahead for whoever loses the first set, as the debilitating heat is obviously a big influence on this match.
06:06 PM BSTRaducanu 5-4 Sakkari*
Sakkari goes wide with a backhand then double-faults to give Raducanu an early 0-30 advantage. The Briton then nets a forehand to go 15-30. Good baseline play sees Sakkari finish the point with a well-timed inside-out forehand winner down the line. A massive backhand return winner brings up break point for Raducanu and the Briton takes it!
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Raducanu will serve for this opening set after the sitdown.
06:01 PM BSTRaducanu* 4-4 Sakkari
Sakkari races to a 0-30 lead thanks to some aggressive baseline play. Raducanu gets on the board following a wild Sakkari forehand. The Greek then nets a drive volley on the forehand wing which brings the game to 30-30 before a lovely backhand return winner gets Sakkari to 30-40. Raducanu saves break point then throws in a double fault to hand Sakkari a second break point.
And Sakkari breaks as Raducanu double-faults again!
05:55 PM BSTStamina test for both
A real slugfest so far. This is a stamina test for both players. Hopefully we’ll see the benefits of the conditioning work which has been a feature of Raducanu’s recent improvement.
05:54 PM BSTRaducanu 4-3 Sakkari*
Sakkari gets things started with an ace before Raducanu draws an error from the Greek on the backhand wing. Sakkari then goes wide with a forehand to give Raducanu a look in before a good first serve moves the score to 30-30. Raducanu then toys with Sakkari from the baseline to bring up break point but the world No 90 quickly snuffs it out with an ace.
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A nice exchange from the back of the court ends with a lovely Sakkari volley but the Greek is unable to close out the game as she goes wide with a drop-volley effort. Advantage Raducanu as Sakkari goes long with a forehand.
And Raducanu breaks again!
05:46 PM BSTRaducanu* 3-3 Sakkari
After exchanging the first couple of points, Raducanu goes long with a forehand to fall 15-30 behind. A good serve to the body sees the Briton draw level at 30-30 and another brings up game point. And the Briton seals it with another fine serve out wide.
05:41 PM BSTRaducanu 2-3 Sakkari*
Sakkari shows good court craft to get to 15-15 before pouncing on a short ball from Raducanu to move 30-15 ahead. The Greek then nets a simple-looking volley before a good second serve sees Raducanu go long on return. Sakkari then nets from the baseline to bring the game to deuce.
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After exchanging a couple of deuce points, a good serve-plus-one from Sakkari brings up game point and the Greek seals the game.
05:34 PM BSTRaducanu* 2-2 Sakkari
Two good first serves get Raducanu to 30-0. Sakkari then goes long with a backhand to give Raducanu three game points and the Briton seals it with an ace.
Very good hold to love from the Briton to draw level in this contest.
05:29 PM BSTRaducanu 1-2 Sakkari*
Sakkari, looking to consolidate the break, falls 0-15 behind. Raducanu then goes long with a backhand return to move the scoreboard to 15-15.
A good first serve sees Raducanu net the return before the Briton finds an incredible angle with a backhand slice.
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Raducanu comes out on top after a long exchange from the baseline to bring up break point but the Briton is unable to convert. Deuce. Another break-point look for the Briton, as Sakkari nets a backhand. Raducanu sprays a backhand return wide following a decent kick serve from the Greek.
Third break point for Raducanu after crushing a return for a clean winner. And the Briton gets back on serve.
05:21 PM BSTRaducanu* 0-2 Sakkari
Sakkari nets a backhand volley to give Raducanu the opening point. The Briton then gets to 30-0 as Sakkari goes long from the baseline.
Raducanu throws in a double fault as Sakkari draws level at 30-30 and another to give Sakkari break point.
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Big first serve out wide gets Raducanu to deuce… one to the body brings up advantage, but Sakkari takes the point with a big forehand cross-court. Raducanu gets to advantage but is unable to close out the game as a result of Sakkari’s depth from the baseline.
Sakkari, putting the Raducanu serve under all sorts of pressure early on, gets her second break point opportunity and takes it.
05:11 PM BSTFirst set: Emma Raducanu 0-1 Maria Sakkari*
Pair trade from the baseline before Sakkari unleashes a forehand winner down the line.
Raducanu then goes wide before a deep return sees the Briton get on the board at 30-15.
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Sakkari holds to 15 to get things started.
05:06 PM BSTPlayers warming up
Maria Sakkari, who is celebrating her 30th birthday today, won the toss and has elected to serve.
04:52 PM BSTMost recent meeting
The last time Raducanu and Sakkari played, the Briton sealed the match in style.
04:41 PM BSTDouble duty
After seeing off Naomi Osaka in straight sets yesterday, Emma Raducanu took to the doubles court alongside Elena Rybakina.
The duo beat Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi 7-6, 6-4.
04:32 PM BSTOne-sided head-to-head
Good afternoon and welcome to quarter-final coverage of Emma Raducanu versus Maria Sakkari at the Mubadala Citi DC Open.
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Raducanu is enjoying her time in Washington this year. Not only is the Briton winning matches on the singles court, the 22-year-old is also getting it done in doubles alongside 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
The Brit-Kazakh duo are through to the semi-finals where second seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai await. That match will take place later tonight.
In the singles draw, Raducanu has been close to perfect and is yet to drop a set. Seventh seed Marta Kostyuk pushed her to a tie-break in the opening set of their first-round encounter but Raducanu prevailed, winning 7-6, 6-4.
The Briton looked even better against four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka yesterday, comfortably dispatching the Japanese former world No 1 6-4, 6-2. Afterwards, Raducanu spoke about how important it was for her to serve well during the contest, particularly on her second delivery.
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“It was extremely important because if you float the second she’s going to crunch it and I’ll be behind in the point. So I have to trust my abilities on the second serve and I went for it and just the double fault in the last service game, so pretty pleased with that.”
Sakkari, who has never beaten Raducanu in their three previous meetings, is playing eye-catching tennis in the United States capital. The former world No 3 saw off Katie Boulter in the first round and then stunned second seed Emma Navarro in round two. Both matches were won in straight sets.
Not only does Raducanu lead the head-to-head 3-0, Sakkari has never won a set in any of the three previous encounters. Their most recent meeting was in Dubai at the beginning of the year, Raducanu won 6-4, 6-2. Before that, their second encounter came at Wimbledon in 2024 – Raducanu won 6-2, 6-3.
Their first meeting, and most notable, was the US Open semi-final in 2021. Raducanu won 6-1, 6-4 and went on to win the tournament.
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Fourth-seeded Dane Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya of Russia will be the semi-final opponent for the winner.