Emma Raducanu stumbles into Korea Open quarter-final after surviving injury scare
Emma Raducanu is through to the last eight in Korea.
Emma Raducanu survived an injury scare to reach her fifth quarter-final of the season at the Korea Open.
The British No. 3 called the physio and had her foot taped up but survived to beat eighth seed Yue Yuan 6-4 6-3, needing seven match points to get it done after a wobble when she tried to serve it out.
Raducanu had come through a marathon match in the first round, needing two hours and 46 minutes to beat Peyton Stearns in straight sets. And her campaign didn’t get any easier as she faced the No. 8 seed for a spot in the quarters.
The world No. 70 pounced first, getting an early break, but Yuan immediately got back on serve. Raducanu continued to pressure her opponent as the Chinese tennis star saved a break point in her next two service games.
And the Brit finally got the breakthrough at a crucial moment, breaking to serve for the set. But she suddenly called the physio and received a three-minute medical time-out where her left foot was bandaged up.
She still got the job done, serving out the first set in 62 minutes. Yuan left the court for a bathroom break while Raducanu stayed on the court and hit some balls as she waited. It paid off, the Brit broke in the first game of the second set.
The former US Open champion kept on rolling. She broke again, reeling off her sixth straight games. But the tide suddenly turned – the world No. 40 broke to end Raducanu’s run of games.
Yuan got her first service hold since the middle of the opening set as her first serve percentage started to creep up. The pressure was on Raducanu as she headed to the changeover still with a 3-2 lead.
After leading 40-15, Raducanu found herself in trouble when Yuan forced a break point. She saved it with her ninth ace of the day and roared in celebration as she held to extend her lead.
With the momentum back on her side, the Brit broke again to serve for the match. But she couldn’t get the job done. Raducanu blew four match points before Yuan finally had a chance to break.
The eighth seed hit a ball that was called out but was overruled to be in. But she didn’t get the break – Raducanu challenged and the umpire ruled that the call affected the Brit’s return. Even though the ball was in, they replayed the point and Raducanu won it.
Raducanu saved another break point before blowing another match point and the contest rumbled on. Another ace saved the third break point of the game but the 21-year-old finally succumbed as Yuan took her fourth chance to stay alive.
The world No. 70 refused to go away. She quickly took a 0-40 lead on her opponent’s serve, giving herself three more chances to get it done. Finally, on match point number seven, she clinched victory and raised her arms in the air.
Afterwards, Raducanu said: “I think my key to the success today is trying to let go of any frustration that happened. Closing out the match I had a lot of match points and couldn’t convert so just staying focused and breaking in that last game.”
The Brit also thanked the fans, adding: “Yeah the crowd support meant a lot. I love playing in Korea, I love Seoul, it’s one of my favourite cities. And I really feel that the fans here really get behind me and I find that particularly special.”
