Emma Raducanu’s progress in the Stuttgart Open was brought to a halt by world number one Iga Swiatek, who won in straight sets. Swiatek, a four-time grand slam champion, won 7-6 (2) 6-3 to set up a semi-final match with Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina. Raducanu, who is currently ranked 303 in the world after a difficult 2023, had won four matches in a row for the first time since her 2021 US Open title. She showed confidence in the early exchanges of the match, with strong returns and a break of serve.
The opening set was a closely contested battle, lasting 70 minutes and featuring high-quality ground strokes from both players. Raducanu held her nerve at key moments to force the set to a tie-break, which Swiatek ultimately dominated to win 7-2. In the second set, Raducanu fell behind early and struggled to regain momentum. Despite fighting to stay in the match and saving break points, Swiatek’s pressure proved too much for Raducanu to handle, ending her resistance and advancing to the semi-finals.
Overall, Raducanu’s quarter-final performance in the Stuttgart Open was a positive step forward, despite the loss to Swiatek. Swiatek’s experience and skill ultimately proved decisive in the match, but Raducanu showed signs of improvement and determination throughout the contest. The match was a test of Raducanu’s abilities against a top-ranked opponent, and she will have valuable lessons and experiences to take away from the encounter.
