Emma Raducanu advanced to the quarterfinals of the Korea Open on Thursday, defeating China's Yuan Yue with a score of 6-4, 6-3. The 2021 US Open champion faced a challenge during the match, taking a medical time-out in the first set to have her foot bandaged. Despite this setback, Raducanu managed to overcome the eighth-seeded Yuan on her seventh match point, showcasing her determination and resilience.
Ranked 70th in the world, Raducanu is unseeded in the tournament and is looking to regain her footing after struggling to replicate her US Open success. She will face either Daria Kasatkina, the number one seed and world number 13, or American Hailey Baptiste in her next match. Reflecting on her performance, Raducanu emphasized the importance of maintaining focus and managing her frustrations, particularly when she struggled to convert multiple match points.
The Korea Open has seen a number of last-minute withdrawals, including top players like world No. 1 Iga Swiatek, US Open runner-up Jessica Pegula, and former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina. Despite these absences, Raducanu is eager to make an impact in Seoul. She previously faced a tough opening match against American Peyton Stearns and was again tested against Yuan, last year’s finalist.
Raducanu broke Yuan’s serve early in the first set but lost the advantage quickly. However, she managed to break again, securing the first set despite the earlier medical interruption. In the second set, Raducanu started strong, breaking Yuan’s serve twice to take a commanding lead. Although Yuan fought back to regain some momentum, Raducanu held her ground and completed the victory. Also advancing to the quarterfinals is third seed Beatriz Haddad Maia, who defeated Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, along with Bulgaria’s Viktoriya Tomova, who benefited from Amanda Anisimova's retirement due to heat-related issues.
ADD A COMMENT :