Emma Raducanu is making waves once again on the WTA Tour, reaching the semi-finals of the Washington Open for the first time in over a year. The 22-year-old British star secured a thrilling 6-4, 7-5 victory over Greece’s Maria Sakkari on a scorching hot day at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center, battling not only a formidable opponent but also punishing temperatures that soared to around 35-36 degrees Celsius.
Raducanu’s path to the final four has been marked by resilience and determination. She overcame a tough start against Sakkari, dropping her serve early after losing the opening game, but quickly bounced back to level at 2-2. The first set was a tightly contested affair, with both players exchanging breaks. However, Raducanu managed to seize the decisive break at 4-4, capitalizing on a scuffed drop-volley from Sakkari to edge ahead and serve out the set after more than an hour of intense play.
The second set saw Sakkari, who turned 30 on the day, come out firing. The Greek player took a 4-2 lead, breaking Raducanu’s serve and showing the kind of liveliness that has made her a tough competitor on the tour. Raducanu squandered two break-point opportunities but held firm, closing the gap gradually. At 5-2, Sakkari appeared poised to push the match into a decider, but Raducanu had other plans.
In a remarkable display of tenacity, Raducanu won five consecutive games to close out the match. This comeback was fueled in part by Sakkari’s 40 unforced errors and Raducanu’s improved shot variety and court agility. The British player’s physical endurance was tested severely, requiring a physio to check her heart rate during the second set due to the brutal heat. Despite feeling "a bit wobbly," Raducanu pushed through, holding serve to love at 5-5 and then clinching the next two games to seal her spot in the semi-finals.
Her victory over Sakkari extended her head-to-head record against the Greek, a testament to her growing confidence and form since a spring resurgence earlier in the year. Raducanu’s coach and team stability have played a key role in this upward trajectory, as she herself acknowledged: "I've been doing a lot of good work. Little by little as you get results, you build confidence. But the amount of work I'm doing behind the scenes, to have that banked, you know you've done it. It takes a little bit of pressure off the results," she told Sky Sports.
This win comes on the heels of impressive performances earlier in the tournament, including a first-round upset of seventh seed Marta Kostyuk and a notable victory over four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. With these wins, Raducanu reclaimed her position as the British No. 1, overtaking Katie Boulter in the rankings, which will be officially updated on Monday, July 28, 2025.
Looking ahead, Raducanu is set to face Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the semi-finals. Kalinskaya, who defeated fourth seed Clara Tauson 6-3, 7-5 to reach the last four, has been a steady presence on the tour with semi-final appearances in Singapore and quarter-finals in Charleston and Strasbourg this year. The matchup promises to be a baseline battle, with both players known for their forceful groundstrokes and preference for hard courts. Kalinskaya tends to let points develop, which could be risky against Raducanu’s agility and shot variety.
The semi-final clash is scheduled for Saturday, July 26, 2025, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis, following the opening semi-final between Leylah Fernandez and Elena Rybakina. Should Raducanu triumph, she could face Fernandez in a repeat of their memorable 2021 US Open final, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the tournament’s climax.
Raducanu also remains in contention in the women’s doubles event alongside partner Elena Rybakina, although the pair retired from their doubles semi-final while trailing 4-1 against second seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai, citing the physical toll of the tournament.
The men’s draw has also seen exciting developments, with Britain’s Neal Skupski and Australian John-Patrick Smith reaching the doubles semi-finals after a comeback win against fourth seeds Michael Venus and Yuki Bhambri. In singles, American Ben Shelton defeated hometown favorite Frances Tiafoe in a quarter-final thriller, while Alejandro Davidovich Fokina upset top seed Taylor Fritz. Corentin Moutet of France also fought back to beat Daniil Medvedev, setting up a semi-final showdown with Australia’s Alex de Minaur.
Raducanu’s performance in Washington marks her first WTA Tour-level semi-final since June 2024 and signals a promising return to form as she gears up for the US Open. The resilience and fighting spirit she displayed against Sakkari, particularly in punishing conditions, highlight her potential to make a deep run in the upcoming Grand Slam. As the summer hard-court season intensifies, all eyes will be on Raducanu to see if she can translate this momentum into her first WTA final since her breakthrough US Open victory in 2021.
With a blend of youthful energy, tactical intelligence, and growing confidence, Emma Raducanu is proving that she remains a formidable force on the women’s tour. Her next match against Kalinskaya could be a defining moment in her 2025 campaign, offering fans a thrilling contest and a glimpse of her evolving game. The Washington Open is shaping up to be a pivotal chapter in Raducanu’s journey back to the top echelons of tennis.
