Emma Raducanu is set to compete against fellow Briton Katie Boulter in the semifinals of the Nottingham Open, marking her first appearance in a WTA semi-final since 2022.
Raducanu advanced after her scheduled quarter-final opponent, Fran Jones, withdrew from their match due to a shoulder injury. Jones, 23, had been set to face Raducanu on Saturday after the match was delayed from Friday due to rain, but she decided to pull out to avoid exacerbating her injury with Wimbledon on the horizon, starting on July 1.
Jones expressed her disappointment, stating, “Hopefully everyone can understand that with the big events coming up, I’m not in a position to be taking many risks.” Her withdrawal has paved the way for Raducanu to move forward without a contest.
Katie Boulter, currently the British number one and defending champion at the Nottingham Open, earned her place in the semifinals with a straight-set victory over Poland’s fifth seed Magdalena Frech on Friday. Boulter, 27, has shown strong form and determination as she aims to defend her title on home soil.
Emma Raducanu, 21, a former US Open champion, has been focusing on her fitness ahead of Wimbledon, opting to miss the French Open to ensure she is in peak condition.
Her run to the Nottingham Open semifinals has included impressive wins over Ena Shibahara and Daria Snigur. Raducanu’s return from injury has been closely watched, and her progress in Nottingham is a positive sign for her fans and supporters.
The Nottingham Open has seen its fair share of challenges with weather disruptions. Saturday’s matches were delayed due to bad weather but resumed at 14:30 BST.
The first match on the center court featured a quarter-final clash between the top seed Ons Jabeur from Tunisia and the Czech Republic’s Karolina Pliskova. Following this match, Raducanu and Boulter will take to the court for their highly anticipated semifinal.
In addition to the Raducanu vs. Boulter match, the final quarter-final of the day will see unseeded players Diane Parry from France and Australia’s Kimberly Birrell compete on court one. Both players have shown remarkable performances to reach this stage, and their match is expected to be a closely fought contest.
The Nottingham Open semifinals featuring Raducanu and Boulter is a significant event for British tennis, showcasing the talent and potential of the nation’s top female players.
Fans are eagerly anticipating this clash, which promises to be an exciting and high-stakes encounter as both players vie for a spot in the final. Raducanu’s continued comeback and Boulter’s title defense add extra layers of intrigue to this matchup.