Raducanu books DC Open semis berth with Sakkari romp
In her third appearance in the nation's capital, Raducanu took one step further than she did in 2022 and 2024. Her quarter-final record improves to 3-9 and her career mark against Sakkari climbs to 4-0, reported WTA.
On the tournament's hottest day so far -- the temperature hovered in the middle 90s but it felt close to 100 -- it was Sakkari who got out of the blocks the fastest. Thanks to two double faults by Raducanu, she forged to a 2-0 lead.
Raducanu won the next three games, and they were level at 4-4 when Raducanu scored the decisive break with a deft, sharply angled backhand return. She served it out, converting her second set point.
Sakkari took control of the second set and was leading when Raducanu re-asserted herself. After holding serve, she broke Sakkari to get back on serve, converting her fourth opportunity with another sweet backhand return winner. After a brief visit from the trainers, Raducanu broke Sakkari. Two errant forehands were the culprit before Raducanu served it out.
Emma Raducanu shakes hands with Maria Sakkari after winning the match. AFP
Venus Williams' return to tennis came to an abrupt end in the last 16, with the veteran American losing to Poland's Magdalena Frech in straight sets.
The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, playing this week for the first time in 16 months, had become the oldest woman to win a WTA match in more than two decades with Tuesday's first round win over Peyton Stearns.
But Venus found the going harder against fifth seed Frech third round clash, losing 6-2, 6-2 in 1hr 13min.
Venus said she was nonetheless satisfied with her return to competitive tennis.
'I had so much fun,' Venus said. 'Not the result I wanted (but) I got to play a lot of matches, definitely a plus. I couldn't be happier...
'I ran out of gas today unfortunately...Sorry to have fell short. But I know I can play better and I know I will play better,' added Venus, who is due to play in next month's Cincinnati Open after being handed a wild card into the event.
Frech will face third seed Elena Rybakina in quarter-finals.
Frech seized the early initiative with a dominant first set performance, breaking Williams in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead.
The Pole duly held for a 4-2 lead and then broke again when Venus' serve unraveled in the seventh game.
The American double-faulted twice in quick succession to hand Frech three break points, and she converted the first to go 5-2 up, before holding to close out the set.
Venus was soon in trouble in the second set, blasting a routine smash well beyond the baseline to give Frech two break points in the first game.
Frech pounced on that chance to grab the break for a 1-0 lead and then held for 2-0.
Venus held for 2-1 but was unable to threaten on Frech's serve in the fourth game as the world number 24 took a 3-1 lead.
Agencies
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