Raducanu 6-6 Boulter – TIEBREAK
Drop shot by Boulter, Raducanu chases down the ball but her flicked shot down the line is called out, 0-1. Raducanu looks unconvinced by the ball. Raducanu forehand long, 0-2. Boulter forehand return into the net, 1-2.
Another forehand long by Raducanu, 1-3. Boulter forehand winner wrong foots Raducanu, who slips awkwardly, 1-4.
She calls for the physio to look at her left knee. The last thing she needs is another injury. But Raducanu decides to carry on without the physio and on the next point strikes a nice forehand into the corner, 2-4.
7:29PM
Raducanu 6-6 Boulter*
Fitting that this evenly fought first set goes to a tie break as Raducanu holds to 15 when Boulter dumps a backhand into the net.
Now the pressure will ramp up!
7:24PM
Raducanu* 5-6 Boulter
Boulter continuing to look very calm and composed on her serve at the moment as she moves to 40-15. Raducanu will be frustrated by the amount of returns she has failed to get back into play.
But a backhand into the net by Boulter opens the door slightly for Raducanu at deuce. Boulter though responds to the pressure, finding her first serve to see out the game.
7:18Pm
Raducanu 5-5 Boulter*
Great hustle by both players but Raducanu comes out on top. Great return by Boulter, Raducanu some how gets the ball back and Boulter races for the short ball and hits drop shot. But she doesn’t do enough because Raducanu chases it down and flicks a backhand into the open court for a winner, 30-15.
Raducanu forehand down the line is too hot for Boulter and she holds serve.
7:13PM
Raducanu* 4-5 Boulter
Back-to-back love holds for Boulter. Raducanu is struggling to read the direction of the British No 1’s serve. Pressure now on Raducanu to hold serve and prolong the set.
7:10PM
Raducanu 4-4 Boulter*
Raducanu appears to have the upper hand when the rally goes beyond five shots. Her backhand is holding up well with the low bounce on the grass court. Raducanu holds to 15.
Emma Raducanu vs Katie Boulter: Scores and updates from Nottingham Open semi-final
Katie Boulter in action CREDIT: Reuters/Peter Cziborra
7:07PM
Raducanu* 3-4 Boulter
Love hold for Boulter. Still waiting for the match is come alive but as we enter the business end of the set, the tension should increase.
Both players are performing solidly without taking control and dominating.
7:03PM
Raducanu 3-3 Boulter*
Raducanu under a little bit of pressure here as she slips to 0-30 with a double fault. She gets back into the game when Boulter pushes a backhand long but faces two break points when a backhand is called long. Raducanu questions it but the call stands.
Boulter wastes the first break point with a forehand return into the net. And Raducanu saves the second when she takes charge of the point, moving Boulter right then left before Boulter’s defensive backhand flies wide.
Big roar of ‘come on’ by Raducanu as she holds onto her serve.
Emma Raducanu vs Katie Boulter: Scores and updates from Nottingham Open semi-final
Emma Raducanu in action CREDIT: PA/Mike Egerton
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6:57PM
Raducanu* 2-3 Boulter
One of the stories at the Nottingham Open this week has been contentious line calls. In back-to-back points, Raducanu and Boulter glance at the line judges over close calls.
Break point for Raducanu after a brilliant backhand winner. Boulter responds with a great wide serve which Raducanu fails to get back into play.
That gets the crowd going. Super rally by both players. Longest of the match and Raducanu earns another break point when Boulter nets a backhand. But once again Boulter responds with a timely first serve that’s unreturned.
And the British No 1 comes through that scare to hold serve and maintain her lead.
6:46PM
Raducanu 2-2 Boulter*
Serve is king at the moment as Raducanu holds to love quickly. Raducanu’s slightly tweaked serve has started very strongly.
6:44PM
Raducanu* 1-2 Boulter
Back to back aces from Boulter takes her to 40-15. Although they have never met each other in a match, they have practiced together at the Billie Jean King Cup.
So they will know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
6:41PM
Raducanu 1-1 Boulter*
Raducanu follows Boulter with a hold to 30. Slightly subdued atmosphere with the match yet to catch fire.
First Set: Emma Raducanu* 0-1 Katie Boulter (*denotes next server)
Confident start by Bouler, as she holds to 30, with a couple of unreturned serves helping her along the way.
Both player looking to tee off on their forehand side early on.
Here we go!
After a lot of delays due to rain, we are about to get underway in Nottingham in what should be a fascinating match.
Will be very interesting to see who gets the most support…
First career meeting between Raducanu and Boulter
Emma Raducanu vs Katie Boulter: Scores and updates from Nottingham Open semi-final
Raducanu vs Boulter in all-British semi-final
Hello and welcome to coverage from the Nottingham Open as Emma Raducanu takes on Katie Boulter in a ‘Battle of Britain’ clash.
Raducanu reached her first semi-final since 2022 after Fran Jones withdrew from their quarter-final earlier today due to a shoulder injury.
Raducanu has looked in good form on her return after a six-week hiatus to prepare for the grass-court season, beating Ena Shibahara and Daria Snigur on her way to the last eight.
That set up an all-British blockbuster between Raducanu and defending champion Boulter. Boulter won her quarter-final on Friday as she looks to retain the title she won last year.
Jones was on court on Friday afternoon ready to play Raducanu before rain forced play to be abandoned for the day and she woke up on Saturday and chose to withdraw.
Jones said: “Unfortunately today I’ve had to withdraw from what was an exciting match with Emma.
“Hopefully everyone can understand that with the big events coming up, I’m not in a position to be taking many risks especially with my last couple of years.
“I think it’s a massive shame, I’ve really enjoyed playing this week and I’ve played at a good level, but I need to continue to think big picture which has got me into the place I’m in so far this year.”
