Emma Raducanu has suffered another frustrating injury setback after being forced to retire mid-match during her quarter-final clash at the Korea Open against Daria Kasatkina. The match, which was highly anticipated, saw Raducanu, a 21-year-old former US Open champion, struggle significantly, ultimately losing the first set 6-1 against the world No. 13 in a little over 30 minutes.
Raducanu had previously demonstrated her resilience and skill during the tournament, securing impressive victories over top-50 players Peyton Stearns and Yue Yuan on her journey to the last-eight showdown. Her performance in those earlier rounds showcased her potential as she battled through adversity, particularly during her match against Yuan, where she received treatment on her foot but managed to overcome the challenge to claim victory.
Prior to her match with Kasatkina, Raducanu had been granted an extra day to recover due to adverse weather conditions that had delayed play, with heavy rain in Seoul forcing the quarter-finals to be rescheduled to Saturday. Despite this extra time to recuperate, she appeared out of sorts against Kasatkina. After a promising start where she managed to break back early after losing her serve, Raducanu struggled significantly thereafter, further hampered by pain in her foot that required physio attention.
The signs became increasingly concerning as Raducanu lost her rhythm and dropped the next couple of games. She visibly showed discomfort on court, leading to a point where she ultimately made the difficult decision to retire before the start of the second set. This decision not only resulted in a lack of opportunity for her to continue the competition, but it also effectively secured Kasatkina’s place in the semi-finals.
The defeat marked yet another challenging moment for Raducanu as she aimed for her second WTA Tour semi-final of the year. She had previously reached the last four in Nottingham in June, but her ongoing struggles with injuries have continued to hinder her progress on the tour. After being forced off the court in such a manner, Raducanu’s focus will now shift to her upcoming participation in the China Open, which is set to begin on Wednesday. She will undoubtedly be hoping for a swift recovery to regain her fitness and competitiveness.
In other tournament news, Beatriz Haddad Maia, the 2017 runner-up, advanced to the semi-finals with a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Polina Kudermetova. Meanwhile, Veronika Kudermetova also secured her spot in the next round by defeating Viktoriya Tomova with a score of 7-5, 6-3. As the tournament progresses, fans and competitors alike will be watching closely to see how injury setbacks play a role in the outcomes for all players involved.
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