Emma Raducanu advanced to her most significant semifinal since her landmark 2021 US Open triumph, defeating Maria Sakkari 6-4, 7-5 on Friday at the DC Open.
In sweltering conditions with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Raducanu mounted a remarkable comeback. After trailing 5-2 in the second set, she won the final five games, a run that included a medical timeout for heat-related struggles.
“I’m usually quite good in the heat, but I was really struggling today,” said Raducanu. “It was one of the toughest matches, conditions-wise, I have ever played in… I’m just happy I could close it out in two sets.”
Raducanu will face Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals after Kalinskaya beat No. 4 seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 7-5.
The other women’s semifinal will feature a matchup between the 2021 US Open finalists. Leylah Fernandez, who was the runner-up to Raducanu, secured her spot by defeating qualifier Taylor Townsend 6-4, 7-6 (4). Fernandez is set to play the tournament’s highest-remaining seed, No. 3 Elena Rybakina, who was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Magdalena Frech.
On the men’s side, Ben Shelton advanced to the DC Open semifinals for a second straight year after winning an all-American quarterfinal against Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (2), 6-4. Shelton dominated on his serve, winning 90% of his first-serve points and sealing the victory with a 146 mph ace.
The fourth-seeded Shelton will next meet Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who staged an upset by defeating top-seeded Taylor Fritz 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-5.
The second men’s semifinal will pit Alex de Minaur against Corentin Moutet. De Minaur dispatched Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 6-4, while Moutet rallied to overcome 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that included an hour-long delay due to lightning.
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