Emma Raducanu is set to face Greek wildcard Maria Sakkari in the quarter-finals of the Washington Open today, a pivotal moment for the British tennis star. Raducanu recently demonstrated her competitive edge by defeating Naomi Osaka in straight sets in the second round, following a remarkable victory over seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in her opening match.
Sakkari, who just knocked out second seed Emma Navarro, will present a challenging opponent for Raducanu. This matchup is crucial for Raducanu as she is on the brink of reclaiming the British No 1 ranking from Katie Boulter when the WTA rankings are published on Monday. Additionally, Raducanu has reached the women’s doubles semi-finals alongside Wimbledon 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, showcasing her versatility on the court.
Raducanu is aiming for her first WTA Tour title since her groundbreaking win at the US Open in 2021, adding an extra layer of significance to this tournament.
The quarter-final clash is scheduled for 5pm BST today on the Stadium Court at the HG FitzGerald Tennis Center, with live coverage available on Sky Sports Tennis in the UK.
After her win against Osaka, Raducanu expressed her respect for her opponent and satisfaction with her performance: “I thought it was going to be a really difficult match. Naomi’s won four slams and has been world number one. I was pleased with how I handled the ball speed and conditions here in DC.”
If Raducanu secures victory against Sakkari, she could face either Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya in the semi-finals, keeping her title hopes alive.
This quarter-final match is an exciting moment for Raducanu, who continues to build on her impressive comeback and reaffirm her status in women’s tennis.