Emma Raducanu Defeats Maria Sakkari To Reach Semifinals

Emma Raducanu is finally giving us something to talk about besides her insanely unfortunate injury history, and wow, has it been worth the wait. For the first time since her fairytale US Open run in 2021, she’s back in a WTA semifinal on hardcourt. The 22-year-old battled Maria Sakkari and blistering heat in Washington, D.C., and came out on top with a gritty 6-4, 7-5 win.

How Did Raducanu Get the Job Done?

It wasn’t smooth sailing by any means, though. Raducanu opened the match with a couple of double faults, basically gifting Sakkari a 2-0 lead. But hey, a little drama makes for a better story, right? Raducanu quickly found her rhythm, winning the next three games, and stole the first set with her signature angled backhand on her second set point. Easy? No. Entertaining? Absolutely.

Set two was where things got dicey. Sakkari, who turned 30 the same day, had a 5-2 lead and looked like she was ready to drag the match into a decisive third set. But Raducanu wasn’t having any of that. Fighting exhaustion and the kind of humidity that makes you feel like you’re in an oven, she somehow clawed her way back. Five straight games later, boom, Raducanu clinched it. Cue the collective sigh of relief from Raducanu fans everywhere.

And Sakkari? She played a solid game, but double faults and some errant forehands at key moments cost her. “Maria played an incredible match,” Raducanu graciously admitted. “And the conditions really suit her… I’m just happy I toughed it out.”

Grit aside, Raducanu’s win wasn’t just about tactics or talent. It’s about growth. She says she’s been focused on “banking good days” off the court, working on everything from her gym sessions to her mindset. If this week shows anything, it’s paying off. Sure, she’s not dominating the tour like she did out of nowhere at Flushing Meadows, but at 22, maybe patience pays. She’s tuning out the noise, trusting the process, and surprising us when we least expect it.

Final Thoughts

Next up? She faces either No. 4 seed Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya in the semis, and honestly, at this point, anything seems possible. Is another title too much to hope for? Probably. Could she keep us glued to our screens anyway? Absolutely. Oh, and for the doubles fans, Raducanu’s still alive in that draw with partner Elena Rybakina. No big deal, just chasing trophies on multiple fronts like it’s 2021 again.