Raducanu beats Noskova to set up Swiatek quarter-final

Britain’s Emma Raducanu produced a dominant display against Linda Noskova to set up a last-eight meeting with Iga Swiatek at the Stuttgart Open.

Raducanu needed 81 minutes to claim a straightforward 6-0 7-5 victory.

The 21-year-old will face world number one and defending champion Swiatek in the quarter-finals after the Pole defeated Elise Mertens 6-3 6-4.

Swiatek, who is on a nine-match unbeaten run in Stuttgart, has a 2-0 win record against Raducanu.

“It’s a match where I have nothing to lose, I can just swing and enjoy it,” the Briton said.

“We played here two years ago in the quarters so it’s exactly the same. I’ve come a long way in two years, I’ve matured a lot and she has obviously achieved so much.”

Raducanu has dropped to 303rd in the world rankings after an injury-hit 2023 season saw her undergo wrist and ankle surgeries.

Following Wednesday’s win against three-time major winner Angelique Kerber, Raducanu continued her return to form with a no-nonsense performance against Noskova – hitting just just seven unforced errors to the Czech’s 31.

The 2021 US Open champion raced through the opening set in just 29 minutes, saving two early break points on the way.

After losing the first seven games, Noskova eventually managed to hold serve to get herself on the scoreboard and level the second set at 1-1.

But despite growing into her service games, the Australian Open quarter-finalist rarely troubled Raducanu’s serve and the Briton struck the decisive blow at 6-5 to wrap up the contest.

“This isn’t my best, I still have a long way to go. I am just really happy the rewards are starting to come on the match court,” said Raducanu.

“Going through everything I went through after the US Open and last year, having eight months out with surgery, it gives you new appreciation and there’s nothing like playing in front of fans, playing good tennis and building on it match by match.”

Earlier on Thursday, Italy’s Jasmine Paolini stunned Tunisian seventh seed Ons Jabeur with a 7-6 (10-8) 6-4 victory.

Paolini will face fourth seed Elena Rybakina next after the Kazakh claimed a hard-fought 7-6 (7-3) 1-6 6-4 win against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova.

Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova is also through to the quarter-finals after defeating Anastasia Potapova of Russia in straight sets.