Emma Raducanu Storms into Quarter-Finals at The Queen’s Club
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has stormed into the quarter-finals of the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club, marking her second WTA Tour quarter-final of the season. According to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Raducanu’s impressive performance saw her defeat Slovakian player Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets.
In a post-match interview, Raducanu revealed that she had been watching Sramkova play at the Billie Jean King Cup and was aware of her opponent’s strengths. "I was watching her play at Billie Jean King Cup and she loves hitting a flat, low and fast ball and on these courts it really stays low and it’s difficult to deal with," Raducanu said, as quoted by the LTA. "I came out ready to expect everything and I’m just happy I was able to get off to a good start and get myself a lead."
Raducanu’s victory also sees her rise to world No.36 in the WTA live rankings and sets her on course to reclaim the British No.1 title when the rankings update on Monday. The 21-year-old Briton got off to a flying start, racing ahead to a triple break lead to go 5-0 up in the opening set. Despite a rare double fault in the next game, Raducanu composed herself to close out the set with a hold to love.
The second set was just as convincing, with Raducanu reeling off four consecutive games to take a 5-1 lead. The Slovakian player was becoming increasingly frustrated as Raducanu dropped just five points on serve in the set. Ultimately, it was Raducanu who applied the pressure, forcing Sramkova to make a crucial error and dump the ball into the net to hand the Brit the win.
Raducanu’s impressive performance was praised by fans and pundits alike, with many hailing her as a strong contender for the title. The British wild card has had a strong season so far, and her victory over Sramkova will surely give her confidence ahead of her next match.
The LTA reports that Raducanu’s win marks her second WTA Tour quarter-final of the season, and she will look to continue her form in the next round. With her ranking set to improve and her confidence growing, Raducanu will be one to watch in the coming weeks.
As the tournament continues, Raducanu will look to build on her momentum and make a deep run in the competition. With her talent and determination, there is no doubt that she will be a force to be reckoned with on the court. The LTA’s coverage of the HSBC Championships at The Queen’s Club continues, with updates on all the latest scores and results.
