Party Time: Raducanu Repels Sakkari for Maiden Washington, DC Semifinal

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, July 25, 202
Photo credit: Mubadala Citi DC Open Facebook

It was Maria Sakkari’s 30th birthday, but Emma Raducanu stole the celebration show today.

Resisting extreme heat and an intense opponent, Raducanu surged through five straight games repelling Sakkari 6-4, 7-5 battling into her maiden Mubadala Citi DC Open semifinal today.

The 2021 US Open champion Raducanu said she welcomed a return to North American hard courts and it’s shown. Raducanu reached her first hard-court semifinal since 2022 Seoul and her first Tour-level semifinal since 2024 Nottingham on grass.

“I think I had a few double faults today, more than usual, but I think in the heat just leg drive is very difficult,” Raducanu said. “Just to stay focused as well for so long I think becomes a little bit harder when it’s hot. I think I have been serving well. I think I feel pretty confident on it right now. Today, when I needed it, it really helped and it was there. It does add another dimension to my game.”

The 46th-ranked Briton converted five of 13 break points in a physical two hour, 10 minute triumph. Raducanu will face either fourth-seeded Clara Tauson or Russian Anna Kalinskaya for a spot in Sunday’s final. Raducanu and Tauson have split two prior meetings though they haven’t faced off in four years. Kalinskaya and Raducanu have not played each other previously.

Today’s opening quarterfinal featured two superb athletes with a shared history—and it’s been a story of futility for Sakkari.

The Greek wild card has lost all four meetings to Raducanu with the British star sweeping all eight sets they’ve played.

Sakkari broke in Raducanu’s opening service game and built a 3-2 lead. Raducanu was more accurate in the crosscourt forehand exchanges, particularly in running rallies, as she reeled off four of the next five games.

Sliding a serve down the T, Raducanu wrapped up the opening set.

Again, Sakkari drew first-break blood converting her fourth break point for a 4-2 second-set lead. The Greek fended off a couple of break points and slashed successive aces confirming the break for 5-2.

A fired-up Sakkari was on the verge of taking a set from Raducanu for the first time, but the former US Open champion wasn’t willing to yield. Sakkari served for the second set, but Raducanu was sharper working the ball into the corners to break back for 4-5.

On the ensuing changeover, a flush-faced Raducanu took a medical timeout for apparent heat-related illness. The tournament doctor checked her pulse, gave her a tablet and Raducanu refueled with water as Sakkari stood out on court awaiting her return.

“Brutal conditions today. Right at the peak heat of the day,” Raducanu told Tennis Channel’s Andrea Petkovic afterward. “It’s incredibly difficult. I had to call the doctor on. I wasn’t feeling too good in the second set, was feeling a bit wobbly. I just needed to try to do my best. 

“When it’s at that stage, you know you’re going to suffer and you have to just go until you physically can’t anymore. It could be a little bit dangerous, but you just leave it all out there on the court.”

You’d think the Greek would have tested her opponent by making her move, but Sakkari committed error after error as Raducanu held at love to level, eventually stretching her run to eight straight points going up 30-love in the 11th game.

Miami Open quarterfinalist Raducanu broke at 30 then served out a gritty win for her first semifinal of the season.