Raducanu Races Into Quarter-finals With Win Over Osaka To Regain British No 1 Slot

Emma Raducanu will reclaim nan British No 1 ranking aft winning her first gathering pinch four-time expansive slam champion Naomi Osaka successful assured fashion. The conflict was hotly anticipated but proved to beryllium not that overmuch of a contest, pinch Raducanu comfortably clinching a 6-4, 6-2 triumph to scope nan quarter-finals of nan Citi Open successful Washington.

“I thought it was going to beryllium a really difficult match. Naomi’s won 4 slams, she’s been world No 1, won Masters [titles],” said Raducanu connected Sky Sports.

“She’s truthful vulnerable and connected nan difficult courts I deliberation she’s peculiarly comfortable. I knew I was going to person to play really good and negociate my ain work games, which I’m really proud of really I did.

“I was making immoderate inroads successful her work games aft I sewage utilized to it a small bit. I’m really pleased pinch really I handled nan shot velocity and nan conditions present successful DC.”

The consequence intends nan 22-year-old will erstwhile again overtake Sonay Kartal and Katie Boulter to go nan top-ranked British subordinate arsenic she looks to unafraid a seeding for adjacent month’s US Open. Raducanu ended Boulter’s two-year tally astatine nan apical of nan home standings successful June but she past slipped backmost to 46 successful nan world aft losing a adjacent tussle pinch Aryna Sabalenka successful nan 3rd information of Wimbledon.

Her 2 victories here, though, could mean Raducanu returns to nan apical 40, and she will decidedly walk Boulter pursuing her opening-round conclusion by Maria Sakkari. It will beryllium nan Greek that Raducanu plays next, and nan Briton has not dropped a group against her successful their 3 erstwhile meetings.

Dan Evans fell successful consecutive sets to France’s Corentin Moutet successful a tourney he won 2 years ago. Photograph: Kyle Gustafson/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Raducanu was crisp from nan commencement against Osaka, who continues to hunt for a measurement backmost to nan apical of nan crippled aft giving commencement to girl Shai 2 years ago. A double responsibility from nan Japanese gave Raducanu nan first break successful nan 5th crippled and nan British subordinate was stone coagulated connected service arsenic she wrapped up nan opening set. Raducanu is without a coach successful Washington amid uncertainty complete nan early of her business pinch Mark Petchey and has only hitting partner Alexis Canter successful her corner, but location was nary deficiency of guidance successful this performance.

She was helped to different break astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd group by much errors from Osaka, who created a first chance connected nan Raducanu service astatine 1-2 but could not return it. Raducanu’s service has improved markedly nether Petchey and was her cardinal limb present arsenic she moved done to a 3rd quarter-final successful Washington pinch beardown hopes of going further.

Cameron Norrie could not lucifer Raducanu, though, nan British No 2 beaten 7-6 (3), 6-3 by American 14th seed Brandon Nakashima. Dan Evans’ hopes of different heavy tally successful Washington 2 years aft he won nan title are besides complete aft he mislaid 6-2, 7-6 (4) to France’s Corentin Moutet.