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Emma Raducanu: US Open Champion’s Resurgence Race Ended by Clinical Jessica Pegula at Western & Southern Open | Tennis News


Emma Raducanu’s impressive early game at the Western & Southern Open ended in a 7-5 6-4 loss to Jessica Pegula.

The British 10th seed opened her campaign in Cincinnati with impressive wins over WTA Tour veterans Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.

But the top American tennis player proved to be too difficult a mountain for the defending US Open champion to climb.

Pegula took control early in the game, driving play on the ground and converting two break-point opportunities to claim the first set.

Another break early in the second half gave the world number eight the boost he needed to secure his spot in the quarterfinals.

Pegula’s technical prowess interrupted the clinical tennis that Raducanu displayed in her previous matches, with the 19-year-old making 21 unwarranted errors in the loss.

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Pegula beat Raducanu in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4

Still, Raducanu is relieved that she’s swinging freestyle again and playing the same offensive tennis that catapulted her to her first Grand Slam title last year, as she headed for her defense at the US Open.

“This week has been a great step forward for me,” she said. “Over the past year, it’s probably been like the first tournament or one of the few where I actually started doing my shots more.

“This week, I was like, ‘Listen, I’ll try, I don’t care if I make a mistake, like it’s fine, but I’d overdo it if I did’. I’m pretty proud of how I’ve been. do this week and I think it’s a great step forward.”

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Raducanu is still looking forward to her US Open title after finding form again

Raducanu said she was tired of just trying to play defensively and realized that she wouldn’t be able to succeed at a high level if she just pushed the ball. The US Open begins on August 29.

“It’s definitely a relief, because I feel like I’m swinging with the same kind of freedom as I could have had, like last year,” she added.

“So it feels really good. I think I can really see it as a positive week, and I really feel like I’m going in a good direction again.”

At the beginning of the day, number 1 in the world Iga Swiatek eliminated by Madison Keys, while Wimbledon runner-up and fifth seed Ons Jabeur also made her exit.

Norrie advances to quarter by crushing Shelton

Cameron Norrie went into the quarterfinals in Cincinnati with a dominant win over American wild card Ben Shelton.

The British 9th seed was untouchable in the first set, overwhelming his 229th-ranked opponent to turn the set into love.

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Cameron Norrie has advanced to the quarterfinals in Cincinnati

Although Shelton was able to hold serve twice in the second set, he was ultimately unable to confront Norrie’s all-out game.

Norrie finished 6-0 6-2 in just 58 minutes to book a clash with Spain Carlos Alcaraz.

The 19-year-old eclipsed Marin Cilic in three sets in the third round and was able to overtake Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev for second place on the ATP rankings with a win at Cincinnati.

Number 1 of the World Daniil Medvedev beat Denis Shapovalov 7-5 7-5 to reach the quarterfinals before defending the US Open title.

Russia’s top seed participated in the final eight by Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Borna Coric but his compatriot Andrey Rublev, the sixth seed, was ousted by Taylor Fritz.

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