Emma Raducanu Triumphs Over Linda Noskova, Advancing to Quarter-final Against Iga Swiatek
2 minutes After a challenging 2023 marked by injuries and surgeries on her wrist and ankle, Raducanu, now ranked 303rd globally, is showing signs of a strong comeback.
Emma Raducanu of Britain delivered a commanding performance against Linda Noskova, securing a 6-0, 7-5 win in just 81 minutes at the Stuttgart Open. This victory sets her up for a quarter-final clash with world number one Iga Swiatek, who beat Elise Mertens 6-3, 6-4. Swiatek, the defending champion and leader of a nine-match unbeaten streak in Stuttgart, holds a 2-0 head-to-head advantage over Raducanu.
Many betting sites have already shortened the odds on Emma Raducanu winning a second Grand Slam this year. The Brit is now just 66/1 to win the French Open next month.
Reflecting on her upcoming match, Raducanu stated:
"It's a match where I have nothing to lose, I can just swing and enjoy it. We played here two years ago in the quarters, so it's exactly the same. I've come a long way in two years, I've matured a lot and she has obviously achieved so much."
After a challenging 2023 marked by injuries and surgeries on her wrist and ankle, Raducanu, now ranked 303rd globally, is showing signs of a strong comeback. She demonstrated her regained form with an impressive performance against Noskova, committing only seven unforced errors compared to Noskova’s 31. Raducanu swiftly took the first set in 29 minutes, overcoming two early break points. Noskova managed to hold serve early in the second set but struggled to significantly challenge Raducanu, who eventually broke at 6-5 to seal the match.
Raducanu expressed her ongoing journey back to top form:
"This isn't my best, I still have a long way to go. I am just really happy the rewards are starting to come on the match court. Going through everything I went through after the US Open and last year, having eight months out with surgery, it gives you a new appreciation, and there's nothing like playing in front of fans, playing good tennis and building on it match by match."
In other matches, Italy's Jasmine Paolini upset Tunisian seventh seed Ons Jabeur 7-6 (10-8), 6-4. She will next face fourth seed Elena Rybakina, who edged out Veronika Kudermetova of Russia 7-6 (7-3), 1-6, 6-4. Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova won in straight sets against Anastasia Potapova and will meet world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the quarter-finals. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk staged a remarkable comeback against China's Zheng Qinwen, saving five match points to win 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, and set up a quarter-final against American third seed Coco Gauff.