Emma Raducanu sets up Stuttgart quarter-final with new world number one Iga Swiatek
- Planet Sport writer
- 21 April 2022
For the first time in six months, Emma Raducanu won back-to-back matches at a single tournament as she progressed to the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix quarter-final.
Raducanu showed glimpses of her best form as she powered past Germany's Tamara Korpatsch in her first WTA Tour clay event in Stuttgart.
The Brit won 6-0 2-6 6-1 as she sealed successive victories for the first time since the Transylvania Open last October.
Raducanu looked unstoppable in the opening set as she dropped just seven points.
But just as the teenager seemed on course for a comfortable victory, Korpatsch hit back and won the second set to take the match into a decider.
The 19-year-old kept her cool and dug deep as she thrashed her opponent in the final set. Raducanu produced a number of high balls to disrupt her opponent's rhythm - a strategy which paid off in a big way for the Brit.
In her post-match interview, Raducanu said: "Overall I feel like Tamara came out in the second set and played some unbelievable tennis.
"I didn't even think that I was making too many mistakes but I dropped the ball slightly short and she was all over it. For me it was just about regrouping for the third set and trying to stay aggressive."
Into the quarters of her first professional tournament on clay 🧱
— wta (@WTA) April 21, 2022
🇬🇧 @EmmaRaducanu sets up a meeting with Swiatek in Stuttgart!#PorscheTennis pic.twitter.com/3uqkuQrgxA
Raducanu will be looking to bag a spot in the semi-final when she takes on new world number one Iga Swiatek.
The Pole is in the midst of a 20-match win streak and has dropped just three games in her last six sets.
The pair previously clashed in the quarter-final of the 2018 girls' singles event at Wimbledon. On that occasion, it was Swiatek who powered to a 6-0 6-1 victory.
Looking ahead to the match, Raducanu added: "Of course she's in great form and it will be an interesting match but she's number one in the world.
"I feel like I've got no pressure going out there, playing on clay against her, so I'm looking forward to the match."
