Emma Raducanu makes impressive start to Porsche Tennis Grand Prix campaign in Stuttgart as she brushes aside fellow Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber; you can watch over 80 tournaments a year, including the US Open, exclusively live on Sky Sports Tennis
Thursday 18 April 2024 07:54, UK
British star Emma Raducanu continued her stunning form on clay as she sealed an emphatic win against Angelique Kerber at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart on Wednesday.
Raducanu, ranked 303rd in the world as she continues her comeback from double wrist surgery, has struggled with form and injuries since her fairytale US Open title in 2021.
But the 21-year-old, who was in inspired form at the weekend as she helped Great Britain qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in stunning fashion with a 3-1 win over France, continued where she left off by dismantling home favourite Kerber 6-2 6-1.
"It was obviously very difficult to play Angie. She has so much history behind her. You're not just playing Angie Kerber. You're playing the person who achieved all those amazing results, so it's definitely one of those where you have to get your mind around and try and play the ball in front of you," said Raducanu.
"I think it wasn't the prettiest match but I really did try to focus and think of the next point, the next ball ahead and not get too bogged down because there were some really long games so I'm just happy to have got through that."
Former world No 1 Kerber only recently returned from 18 months out on maternity leave and it showed throughout.
Raducanu got off to a flying start by breaking Kerber in the opening game and despite an immediate response from the German, the Briton took control and claimed the first set in 41 minutes.
Kerber was broken again at the start of the second set and although she managed to haul back level, Raducanu stepped up a gear and shrugged off a brief visit from the trainer to wrap up an emphatic win.
Talking about her comeback from injury, Raducanu continued: "The fitness takes a lot out of you just to compete and I think the matches are a lot more physical than practising. It's tough to replicate because it's not just the hours on court, it's the stress, it's the nerves that go into your muscles.
"The match fitness something is difficult and also the shot selection."
Raducanu will take on Czech teenager Linda Noskova next on Thursday not before 5.30pm - live on Sky Sports Tennis.
"I played her in a three-hour slog outdoors at the French Open. It was raining and heavy. I think it's going to be a tough match of course and she's in great form."
US Open champion Coco Gauff battled her way to the quarter-finals of the same event earlier on Wednesday with a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 7-5 win over compatriot Sachia Vickery.
The 134th-ranked Vickery created 19 break points but could only convert seven of them against world No 3 Gauff, who rallied from 4-2 down in the final set to win.
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur finally snapped a five-game losing streak to beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 2-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1), telling reporters: "I thought about withdrawing so many times because I couldn't take another loss."
In Rouen, Naomi Osaka's return to clay was cut short by a 6-4 6-2 first-round defeat to Martina Trevisan.
Like Kerber, Osaka only recently returned to the tour following maternity leave, and was competing as a wild card.
In the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, Britain's fifth-seeded Harriet Dart suffered a 6-3 6-1 defeat to home player Matilde Jorge.
Sky Sports has confirmed a new home for tennis in the UK and Ireland, with Sky Sports Tennis on Sky and NOW, making tennis content available all day, every day for fans.
Sky Sports will broadcast more live tennis than anywhere else, bringing over 4,000 matches from more than 80 tournaments a year on the ATP and WTA Tours, as well as full coverage of the US Open, all exclusively live.
Non-Sky subscribers can stream live matches with a NOW Sports Day and Month Membership, via Sky Sports Tennis, Sky Sports Arena, and Sky Sports Mix channels.
For further access, fans will also be able to follow their favourite players and gain deeper insights from both Tours via Sky Sports News, the Sky Sports app, on SkySports.com and via Sky Sports social channels.
Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League, EFL, F1, England Cricket, Tennis and so much more.
You can now start receiving messages and alerts for the latest breaking sports news, analysis, in-depth features and videos from our dedicated WhatsApp channel!
Watch the WTA and ATP Tours throughout 2024 on Sky Sports Tennis. Stream Sky Sports Tennis and more with a NOW Sports Month Membership. No contract, cancel anytime.
