Britain’s tennis star
Katie Boulter defeated
Emma Raducanu in
the semifinal of the
Nottingham Open. The 27-year-old came out on top in a
three-setter with a score of 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday.
Boulter came into the semifinal after beating Magdalena Frech
in the last-eight clash with a score of 6-2, 6-4. On the other hand, Raducanu cemented
her place in the last-four after her quarterfinal clash was called off as her opponent
Francesca Jones withdrew because of a fitness concern.
The former US Open champion started the semifinal brightly
as she won the first set with a score of 7-6. Raducanu won 70 percent service
points in the opening set. It was Boulter's show from the second set onwards as she proved
too strong for her opponent. In the second set alone, the Leicester-born star won
84.6 percent points on her first serve, considerably higher than her
opponent who managed to win just 63.6 percent points on her first serve. She
converted a couple of breakpoints as well.
In the third and final set, the current world number 30 continued her impressive form. She broke her opponent's serve three times in the process. Boulter will face the clash winner between Diane Parry and Karolina
Pliskova.
If Boulter manages to win the final, it will be only her
second title. Interestingly, it will be her second title this year as well. She
won her first WTA title in the San Diego Open after beating Marta Kostyuk in
the final with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-2.
On the other hand, Raducanu will be slightly pleased with
her performance despite the result as she managed to register her best outing
in a WTA event this season. Previously, her best appearance came in the
Stuttgart Open where she was knocked out after losing in the quarterfinal to
the current world number one Iga Swiatek with a score of 7-6, 6-3.