Having helped Team GB to the finals of the Billie Jean Cup by winning two rubbers against France last week, Emma Raducanu continued her impressive form on clay by beating home favourite Angelique Kerber 6-2 6-1 in Stuttgart.
Both players appeared as wild cards in Stuttgart.
Raducanu has fallen down the rankings after taking time out to undergo three surgical procedures whilst former World No. 1 Kerber only recently returned from 18 months maternity leave.
Kerber, twice a winner in Stuttgart, was broken in the opening game and the surprise 2021 US Open Raducanu won the first set in just 41 minutes.
The second set started in similar fashion and although the German managed to level up at 1-1, Raducanu upped her game and despite a brief visit from the trainer completed an emphatic win.
She will face Czech Linda Noskova in the last 16.
Off the courts Raducanu’s company made a profit of almost £10 million in 2023, according to accounts filed at Companies House in London..
The company, Harbour 6 Ltd, was first registered in 2020, a year before she rose to fame by winning the US Open as a qualifier.
Not quite so comfortable are her chances of getting a main draw spot in next month’s French Open.
It’s unlikely that with her protected ranking of only 103 Raducanu would be handed a wild-card entry from the French Tennis Federation, who are likely to favour home grown talent.
In reality she needs five players to withdraw from the event to enable her to have direct entry into the season’s second Grand Slam, otherwise she will have to face the lottery of qualifying.
Main photo:- Emma Raducanu winning in Stuttgart – by WTATennnis.com
