Emma Raducanu: Briton to face world No 1 Iga Swiatek in Stuttgart quarter-finals | Tennis News
Emma Raducanu set up a blockbuster meeting with world No 1 Iga Swiatek at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart after defeating Czech teenager Linda Noskova on Thursday.
Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, continued her stunning run of form after inspiring Great Britain to qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals with a 3-1 win over France last weekend.
After dismantling former No 1 Angelique Kerber for three games on Wednesday, the Brit crushed 19-year-old Noskova 6-0 7-5 to reach the last eight where Pole Swiatek awaits in her biggest match since her comeback from double wrist and ankle surgery.
Swiatek made a winning start to her Stuttgart title defence with a 6-3 6-4 win against Elise Mertens.
The 2022 and 2023 champion was making her first appearance on clay this season after a first-round bye – and the world No 1 proved too strong for Mertens, winning in an hour and 33 minutes.
“I’m really happy with the way I played. Elise was really good on defence. I’m happy with the way I handled it,” said Swiatek.
“There’s always pressure when you’re favourite in every match. In Doha, it was hard to let the pressure go… in the past two years, it’s never easy. I’m not taking anything for granted. Keep my focus, it’s the only way.”
On playing Raducanu, the Pole added: “Looks like she’s getting her game back together.”
Fourth seed Elena Rybakina reached the last eight with a hard-fought three-set win over Veronika Kudermetova, triumphing 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 6-4, and will now face Jasmine Paolini after the latter dumped out seventh seed Ons Jabeur 7-6 (10-8) 6-4.
Elsewhere, sixth seed Marketa Vondrousova defeated Anastasia Potapova 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.
Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, seeded second and third respectively, won their last 16-matches on Wednesday.
Sabalenka – who has lost in the final in Stuttgart in the last three seasons, first to Ashleigh Barty and then back-to-back to Swiatek – beat Paula Badosa and Gauff knocked out fellow American Sachia Vickery.
Eight of the top 10 ranked women are at the tournament, the main event in the first week of clay tournaments on the WTA Tour.
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