Emma Raducanu was defeated by Spain’s Paula Badosa in a gripping quarter-final match at the Washington Open. Badosa overcame a set and a break deficit to win 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 after a tense two hours and 45 minutes of play. Raducanu, ranked 89th, displayed resilience but struggled to maintain momentum against Badosa, ranked 62nd.
Badosa praised Raducanu’s skill and tactical intelligence, stating, “She was playing amazing and took me to the limit. I knew I had to play aggressively.” Raducanu had an early advantage in the third set, breaking Badosa in the first game and saving a break point to lead 2-0. However, Badosa fought back, capitalizing on a double fault from Raducanu to level the score in the sixth game.
The match turned as Raducanu failed to convert three break points in the subsequent game, leading to a break of her own serve, putting Badosa ahead 5-3. Despite saving a match point with a precise backhand, Raducanu was unable to sustain her comeback, ultimately double-faulting on Badosa’s match point.
Raducanu’s return to the tour this year follows an eight-month absence due to surgeries on both wrists and her left ankle. She opted out of playing for Great Britain in the Olympics to focus on hard court preparation for the upcoming US Open, the tournament she famously won as a qualifier in 2021. As she continues her comeback, Raducanu remains focused on regaining form and confidence on the tour.
