Raducanu and Fernandez to DC Open Semifinals: Battle of the Stars!

Raducanu Advances to Semifinals at the DC Open

Emma Raducanu achieved her best performance in the semifinals since her stunning victory at the 2021 US Open, defeating Maria Sakkari with scores of 6-4 and 7-5 on Friday, securing her place among the top four at the DC Open. In a hot day with temperatures exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, Raducanu requested a medical timeout while coming back in the last five games of the match after being down 5-2 in the second set.

I’d like to say I’m pretty good with the heat, for the most part, but today it really got to me. It was one of the toughest matches, condition-wise, that I’ve played. Those points in the second set, I felt a little bit shaky. I’m happy I was able to close it out, and it was two sets.

Emma Raducanu

Leylah Fernandez, runner-up against Raducanu at Flushing Meadows four years ago, also advanced to the semifinals. Fernandez secured her spot with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over qualifier Taylor Townsend on Thursday. The next challenge for Fernandez will be a match against Elena Rybakina, Wimbledon 2022 champion and the highest remaining seed in the tournament, ranked number 3. Rybakina achieved a 6-3 and 6-3 victory over Magdalena Frech. Raducanu’s rival in the semifinals on Saturday will be Anna Kalinskaya, who defeated Clara Tauson with a score of 6-3 and 7-5.

Ben Shelton and Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Men’s Semifinals

In the men’s bracket, Ben Shelton secured a spot in the DC Open semifinals for the second consecutive year, defeating Frances Tiafoe with a score of 7-6 (2) and 6-4 in a quarterfinal match between Americans. Shelton, who won 90% of the points with his first serve, finished the match with his ninth ace, reaching 146 mph. The fourth seed, Shelton, will face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday for a place in the final. Davidovich Fokina defeated the first seed, Taylor Fritz, with a score of 7-6 (3), 3-6 and 7-5 on Friday night. The other men’s semi-final will pit Alex de Minaur against Corentin Moutet. De Minaur overcame Brandon Nakashima with a score of 6-4 and 6-4, while Moutet achieved a 1-6, 6-4 and 6-4 victory over Daniil Medvedev.