Emma Raducanu 'very confident' ahead of Wimbledon despite Eastbourne exit as Katie Boulter, Harriet Dart also fall
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Updated 27/06/2024 at 21:23 GMT
Emma Raducanu was the last British woman standing in the women's singles draw at Eastbourne following quarter-final defeats for Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart. But the 2021 US Open champion was overwhelmed in a 6-2 6-2 defeat to fourth seed Daria Kasatkina to end hopes of a home victory. They are still alive in the men's draw, though, thanks to Billy Harris' superb win over Flavio Cobolli.
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Emma Raducanu’s bid for Eastbourne International glory came to an emphatic end against Daria Kasatkina, while Katie Boulter and Harriet Dart also fell at the quarter-final hurdle to end British hopes in the women's singles draw.
Raducanu, making her final outing before Wimbledon, earned the first top 10 win of her career over Jessica Pegula to reach the last eight, but was outgunned by sixth seed Kasatkina in a 6-2 6-2 defeat.
However, she was upbeat about her form and fitness ahead of the third Grand Slam of the year on home turf at the All England Club.
“I think I should be very confident,” Raducanu said. “I feel like I have every right to be in the position that I am now, because I have been training, I have been working for it.
“I’m looking forward to it. I’m very happy to be back in London. It’s where I call home. It’s where I missed last year so much.”
The 2021 US Open champion has made an encouraging start to the grass-court swing, reaching her first semi-final of the season against Boulter in Nottingham before another strong run in Eastbourne.
But a second statement win in a row was beyond her as Kasatkina raced to a straight-sets victory in one hour and 21 minutes.
Raducanu was broken twice in the opening set and failed to earn a single break point against the Russian, who won 100% of her first-serve points.
A scrappier second set saw the Brit break twice, but Kasatkina’s four breaks of serve sent her on the way to a comfortable win.
Raducanu went the distance in a three-set comeback against Pegula a day earlier, but blamed nobody but herself following the defeat.
“I wasn’t tired at all. I was feeling really good,” she said.
“I think I just dealt with the circumstances badly. I was very inflexible in my approach. That’s my honest reflection of the match. But physically I’m in a really good spot. I’m fine.
“I just need to learn to be more willing to adapt. I hadn’t really played many matches in that level of wind.
“Daria actually plays really good in those conditions, because she makes it very awkward for the opponent. I just think she handled it a lot better.”
Kasatkina will face Roland-Garros runner-up Jasmine Paolini in the semi-finals, with Leylah Fernandez up against fourth seed Madison Keys in the other last-four clash.
The draw was set after Paolini earned a 6-1 7-6(0) victory over British No. 1 Boulter, ending her hopes of a second title in a row on home soil following her successful Nottingham defence.
“I think I have played some brilliant tennis this week, last week, the week before,” said Boulter.
“I’m not worried too much about anything. I don’t know what’s going to happen next week [at Wimbledon].
"But one thing I do know is that this is the best tennis I have been playing for a very long time, I think ever actually in my career.
“I have been building this for a very long time in terms of the way that I have been playing more consistently and my strength and the power that I’m bringing each time I step on the court.
“But, at the same time, I’m realistic. There are some tough draws out there.
“Obviously first time seeded for me, which was a goal of mine. I am looking forward to getting out there.”
Meanwhile, Dart’s run came to an end against Fernandez as she suffered a 6-2 6-1 defeat, while Keys was given a walkover against Karolina Muchova, who withdrew with a wrist injury.
There was better news for British tennis in the men’s draw, as Billy Harris overcame Flavio Cobolli 6-7(3) 7-6(4) 6-2 to reach his first Tour-level semi-final.
Wildcard Harris, who reached the quarter-finals at Queen’s a week earlier, will take on Australian qualifier Max Purcell for a place in the final.
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