WASHINGTON — Emma Raducanu dominated her first profession matchup in opposition to Naomi Osaka, profitable the showdown between previous US Open champions on the D.C. Open on Thursday 6-4, 6-2.
“I did really feel it had a bit of additional,” Raducanu stated. “It is a match that I really feel lots of people have been speaking about beforehand. I knew that forward of the match, however I really fairly like these form of matchups, the place you are taking part in an important opponent. Lots of people have eyes on the match. They’re into it. I take pleasure in it. I am simply happy with how I used to be capable of navigate taking part in a four-time Slam champ.”
Raducanu, the primary qualifier to say a Grand Slam title when she did that in New York in 2021, saved the one two break factors she confronted and managed to interrupt the big-serving Osaka thrice.
“I am serving higher, and that helps lots. I all the time returned fairly first rate, however the aspect of simply after I serve properly, it does add one other dimension to my sport,” Raducanu stated. “I can form of begin the factors higher and search for my forehand and get that into play a bit extra after which dictate.”
Osaka was harm by seven double-faults.
“I really feel like from the baseline, I used to be doing fairly properly,” stated Osaka, who the US Open and Australian Open twice every. “I feel there are particular conditions the place she acquired yet another ball again and I used to be form of simply wanting and ready.”
Raducanu, who’s ranked forty sixth, will face Maria Sakkari within the quarterfinals. Sakkari eradicated No. 2 seed Emma Navarro on Wednesday.
Venus Williams, the seven-time Grand Slam singles champion again on tour at age 45, was scheduled to face Magdalena Frech at evening.
Winners in males’s motion Thursday on the hard-court match in Washington included No. 4 seed Ben Shelton, No. 7 Alex De Minaur, No. 8 Daniil Medvedev, No. 12 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and No. 14 Brandon Nakashima.