Washington, Jul 25 (AP) - In a highly anticipated clash at the D.C. Open, Emma Raducanu took control of her first career meeting with Naomi Osaka, securing a commanding 6-4, 6-2 win. This match brought together two former U.S. Open champions, showcasing Raducanu's impressive skill and composure.
"I did feel it had a bit of extra," Raducanu commented on Thursday. "It's a match that many people were discussing beforehand. Knowing that going into the match, I found myself enjoying the challenge of facing a strong opponent with all the attention on the match. I'm very satisfied with how I managed to perform against a four-time Grand Slam champion." Raducanu, who made history as the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam at the U.S. Open in 2021, demonstrated resilience by saving the only two break points she faced and successfully breaking Osaka's serve three times.
"I'm serving better, which makes a significant difference. My returns have always been decent, but a strong serve adds another dimension to my game," Raducanu explained. "It allows me to start points more effectively, utilize my forehand, and take control of the play." Osaka struggled with seven double-faults, which affected her rhythm.
"I feel like I was playing quite well from the baseline," said Osaka, who has won the U.S. Open and Australian Open twice each. "However, there were instances where she managed to return one more shot than I expected, leaving me waiting." Currently ranked 46th, Raducanu is set to face Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals. Sakkari triumphed over No. 2 seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday.
Veteran Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles winner, was scheduled to play against Magdalena Frech in a night match. In men's play on Thursday at the Washington hard-court tournament, notable winners included No. 4 seed Ben Shelton, No. 7 Alex de Minaur, No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, No. 12 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and No. 14 Brandon Nakashima. (AP) PDS PDS
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