Emma Raducanu advanced to her first WTA Tour quarterfinal on the grass at the Nottingham Open after putting on yet another strong performance, easily defeating Daria Snigur.
The grass court season was supposed to be Raducanu’s make-or-break campaign after she missed the French Open. Based on her back-to-back victories, it has definitely been a “make” campaign for the 2021 US Open champion.
Raducanu defeated world No. 127 Snigur 6-2, 6-2 in the second round after winning the first round against qualifier Ena Shibahara.
Raducanu had a rough start in game two and was broken, so the first set wasn’t quite as easy as the scoreline would have you believe. However, she won the next six games to take the set and broke twice in the second.
It was a very difficult match. Raducanu remarked following her victory, “To be honest, I knew before I came on I need to be on it today because Daria is a really good player and grass court player especially.” I played junior tennis with her when I was younger, so I am aware of how difficult it is for her to play. She won junior Wimbledon.
“I’m really pleased with how I handled it, particularly at the start, and succeeded.”
As a result, she advances to the WTA Tour’s first-ever grass quarterfinal, where she will face either American Ashlyn Krueger or fellow Brit Francesca Jones to earn a spot in the semifinals.
In order to prepare for the event, Raducanu enlisted the help of former professional tennis player Jane O’Donoghue, who has been working with a different coach in Nottingham.
The 21-year-old’s comeback to form at the location where she began her career three years ago is evident in the relationship, which is off to a great start.
Raducanu debuted on the WTA circuit in Nottingham back in 2021. Despite losing in the opening round, her career took off as she went on to win the US Open later that year, get a Wimbledon wildcard, and advance to the fourth round at SW19.
She stated earlier this week, “I would say Nottingham is a special place in my career.” “I love it because it’s where it all began—my first WTA match. The week after, I participated in the 100k, and that’s how I won my Wimbledon wildcard because I wasn’t selected in the initial draw.
“I had to win two 100k matches in order to receive a wildcard and advance to the Wimbledon fourth round.” It’s a very special place, and who knows what would have occurred or whether the US would have happened if I hadn’t won the wildcard.
It is therefore a collection of brief moments where you never know what may happen. Coming back here after winning the US Open is clearly not the same as it was before.