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Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu was forced to withdraw from her Korea Open quarter-final match after losing the first set 6-1 against top seed Daria Kasatkina on Saturday. A left foot injury prevented Raducanu from continuing, leaving fans disappointed as she exited the tournament earlier than expected.
The match took place in Seoul, South Korea, where Raducanu struggled with her serve due to her injured left foot, especially as it’s her landing leg after each serve. Despite trying to continue after a medical timeout, Raducanu faced difficulties, including double faults and being unable to chase down Kasatkina’s returns across the court.
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This injury had also surfaced during Raducanu’s round of 16 match against Yuan Yue, where she required a medical timeout but managed to continue and win 6-4, 6-3. However, against Kasatkina, Raducanu couldn’t maintain her form and had to bow out earlier than she hoped.
After the match, Kasatkina expressed, “I feel sorry for Emma… It’s a pity to get injured, especially in the deeper stages of the tournament.” She also wished Raducanu a speedy recovery, hoping the young star can return to the court soon.
Kasatkina to Face Shnaider in Semi-Finals
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With this win, Kasatkina will face fellow Russian Diana Shnaider in the semi-finals, scheduled for later on Saturday after rain delayed Friday’s play. Shnaider, the fourth seed, defeated Marta Kostyuk, the Ukrainian fifth seed and Australian Open quarter-finalist, with a score of 7-6(7), 6-3 in the quarter-finals.
In the other semi-final, Brazilian third seed Beatriz Haddad Maia will take on Veronika Kudermetova, a former French Open quarter-finalist. Haddad Maia cruised past Veronika’s younger sister, Polina Kudermetova, with a 6-2, 6-1 victory to secure her spot in the last four.
Veronika Kudermetova Finding Form in 2024
This is also the first time this year that Veronika Kudermetova has reached a semi-final after defeating Viktoriya Tomova 7-5, 6-3 in her quarter-final match. This marks a positive turn for the Russian player as she seeks to regain her form and stability after facing challenges earlier in the season.
With Raducanu’s absence, the semi-final clash between Kasatkina and Shnaider promises to be a thrilling battle between two in-form Russian players. Meanwhile, Haddad Maia and Kudermetova will also deliver an intense match as both are performing well.
Hope for Raducanu’s Comeback
Despite her withdrawal, fans are hopeful that Raducanu will recover quickly and come back stronger. Injuries are always unfortunate, especially when a young player is at the peak of their performance. Hopefully, with timely medical care, Raducanu can make a speedy recovery and return to compete in upcoming tournaments.
This year’s Korea Open has showcased many exciting and dramatic matchups, promising memorable moments for tennis fans. The upcoming semi-finals will undoubtedly be the highlight of the tournament, with top players vying for the championship title.
