Paula Badosa (No. 62) had a great comeback
against Emma Raducanu (No. 89), winning 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to advance to the
semifinals of the Mubadala DC Open. In a clash between two players aiming to
return to the upper echelons of the rankings, the Spaniard emerged victorious,
reaching her first semifinals since 2023.
The former Indian Wells champion ensured a new
ranking ascent and returns to the top-50, marking her best performance in the
past year. Now she prepares to face local favorite Caroline Dolehide (No. 49),
who recently defeated Amanda Anisimova.
Badosa advances to first semifinal since 2023
Raducanu quickly secured a break in the first
game, giving her some comfort while Badosa appeared inconsistent at the start.
The Brit held onto her lead with strong service games and repeatedly threatened
Badosa’s serve, although the Spaniard managed to keep the gap narrow.
Badosa had just a 40% first-serve percentage
throughout the set, though with a high effectiveness of 88%, totaling 3 aces
and 5 double faults. Raducanu, meanwhile, maintained better balance with a 60%
first-serve percentage, winning 73% of those points, with one ace and one
double fault. Raducanu did not face any break points and secured the set 6-4.
Badosa picked up the pace in the second set,
although she continued to struggle with her first serve. Nevertheless, she won
76% of her service points, clearly dominating when it was her turn to serve.
Raducanu saved a break point in the 4th game, but neither could generate much
threat on return for several minutes.
When it seemed the set would go to a tie-break,
Raducanu made a couple of unforced errors under pressure. On her third set
point, Badosa converted her first break of the match, enough to take the set
7-5 and force a decider.
Raducanu secured an early break and quickly led
2-0, making a comeback from Badosa seem unlikely. However, the resilience of
the former world No. 2 shone through once more as she broke back in the 6th
game to level the match as the tension increased.
Badosa saved three break points and then took
advantage of a single opportunity to break and lead 5-3, giving her the chance
to close out the win on her serve. After missing one match point, Raducanu
broke back, extending the tension in Washington.
However, Raducanu couldn't hold her serve, and
after two hours and 55 minutes, Badosa broke again to seal the win 4-6, 7-5,
6-4 and advance to the semifinals. She will face Caroline Dolehide (No. 49),
who comfortably defeated Amanda Anisimova in the quarterfinals.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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