Emma Raducanu’s progress in the Stuttgart Open was stopped by world number one Iga Swiatek in straight sets. Swiatek, a four-time grand slam champion, won 7-6 (2) 6-3, setting up a semi-final matchup with Elena Rybakina. Raducanu, who is currently ranked 303 in the world, showed promise in the quarter-final after a difficult year in 2023. She came into the match with confidence after winning four matches in a row for the first time since her US Open victory in 2021.
Raducanu displayed strong returns at the beginning of the match, turning a 0-40 deficit into an immediate break of serve. However, Swiatek fought back and the first set was a closely contested battle lasting 70 minutes. Despite Raducanu holding her nerve at key points, Swiatek ultimately won the tie-break 7-2, dominating the set.
In the second set, Raducanu fell behind early and faced technical difficulties after slipping on the baseline. Despite her efforts to stay in the match and fend off break points, Swiatek maintained the pressure and eventually defeated Raducanu to advance to the semi-finals. The match showcased high-quality groundstrokes from both players throughout.
