Emma Raducanu in action in Eastbourne

Emma Raducanu’s hugely positive campaign at the 2024 Rothesay International in Eastbourne ended at the quarter-final stage with a straight-set defeat to Daria Kasatkina.

The 2021 US Open champion fell to a convincing 2-6, 2-6 loss to Kasatkina in windy conditions at the WTA 500 tournament on Thursday.

Kasatkina dominated the opening set as she broke Raducanu twice and had four set points on the Brit’s serve to win it 6-1, before serving it out.

The world No 14 lost her serve twice in the second set, but she broke Raducanu in all four of her service games en route to sealing her spot in the semi-finals.

Despite the one-sided defeat, Raducanu should take great encouragement from her run in Eastbourne heading into next week’s 2024 Wimbledon Championships.

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The 21-year-old overcame world No 5 Jessica Pegula in the second round to earn her first-ever victory against an opponent ranked in the top 10.

Raducanu also saved a match point en route to winning a match for the first time in her career in the 4-6, 7-6(6), 7-5 victory against the 30-year-old American.

In the opening round in Eastbourne, Raducanu cruised past world No 45 and former US Open winner Sloane Stephens 6-4, 6-0.

With the 108 points gained for reaching the last eight at the 500 event, Raducanu has climbed 33 places from 168th to 135th in the live WTA Rankings.

Speaking on commentary for the BBC, former British No 1 Annabel Croft gave her assessment of Raducanu’s week.

“It had its moments where you could see Kasatkina was stressing a bit, I just felt like she (Raducanu) lost energy,” said the former world No 24.

“But two excellent wins, huge confidence-boosters. First time she’s beaten a top 10 player in Pegula and she’s got to be going into Wimbledon with as much confidence as she possibly can.”

Kasatkina will face world No 7 Jasmine Paolini in the last four after the Italian defeated Katie Boulter 6-1, 7-6(0) in the last eight.

In her on-court interview, Kasatkina disagreed when it was put to her that she had seemed to be in control for the entire match.

“Well, not so much. I was trying to be in control of myself, first of all, because the conditions are very tough. It’s super windy,” the Russian said.

“It’s very difficult to do some nice things, so you have to play and try to win as many points as you can. Try to put as many balls as you can inside the court. And I think I did this pretty good today.”

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