Emma Raducanu Prevails in Nottingham Open Tie-Break Drama

Katie Boulter (right) claimed victory in her sole prior WTA encounter with Emma Raducanu when her compatriot retired injured during a match in India in 2019.

Emma Raducanu will resume her Nottingham Open semi-final against compatriot Katie Boulter with a one-set advantage, as play suspended on Saturday evening. The former US Open champion showed resilience to clinch the first set 7-6, winning a tense tie-break 15-13. Despite slipping early in the tie-break, Raducanu sealed the set with a decisive smash at the net, prompting the umpire to halt play due to worsening conditions.

British number one Boulter, 27 had her own opportunities with three set points but now faces a challenging task to defend her title. The match will restart on Sunday morning, with the winner advancing to face either Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic or France’s Diane Parry in the final. Bad weather has plagued the Nottingham Open all week, delaying matches.

On Saturday, play began late in the afternoon after a lengthy quarter-final clash between top seed Ons Jabeur and Karolina Pliskova, which included rain delays. Pliskova eventually triumphed in a grueling three-set battle, setting up a semi-final clash with unseeded Diane Parry.

Earlier, Emma Raducanu reached her first WTA semi-final since 2022 after her quarter-final opponent Fran Jones withdrew due to a shoulder injury before their match. Jones expressed caution ahead of Wimbledon, emphasizing her need to avoid risks.