Emma Raducanu Dominates Linda Noskova, Sets Up Quarterfinal Clash with Iga Swiatek at Stuttgart Open
April 20, 2023 – In a decisive display, Britain’s Emma Raducanu cruised past Linda Noskova to set up a quarterfinal showdown with world number one Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open. The 21-year-old Raducanu needed just 81 minutes to claim a comprehensive 6-0 7-5 victory over her Czech opponent.
Raducanu, who has dropped to 303rd in the world rankings after an injury-plagued 2023 season, showcased her return to form with a disciplined performance. The 2021 US Open champion struck just 7 unforced errors, a stark contrast to Noskova’s 31. Raducanu raced through the opening set in 29 minutes, saving two early break points along the way.
“It’s a match where I have nothing to lose, I can just swing and enjoy it.”
Despite Noskova managing to get on the scoreboard and level the second set at 1-1, Raducanu remained firmly in control, securing the decisive break at 6-5 to seal the match. Speaking after the win, the Briton expressed her excitement for the upcoming quarterfinal clash with defending champion Swiatek, stating, “It’s a match where I have nothing to lose, I can just swing and enjoy it.”
The two players last met in the quarterfinals of this very tournament two years ago, and Raducanu believes she has made significant strides since then, saying, “I’ve come a long way in two years, I’ve matured a lot and she has obviously achieved so much.”
Other Quarterfinal Matches
Earlier in the day, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini produced a stunning upset, defeating seventh seed Ons Jabeur 7-6(8-6) 6-4. Paolini will face fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the quarterfinals, who battled past Veronika Kudermetova in a three-set thriller.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova also advanced to the quarterfinals, defeating Anastasia Potapova in straight sets.
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