Although Emma Raducanu’s impressive run at the Stuttgart Open came to an end at the hands of world No 1 Iga Swiatek on Friday night, there was absolutely no shame in the loss – particularly as it was the US Open champion’s first ever meeting against a player ranked inside the top 10.
In fact, Raducanu can look back on the 6-4 6-4 result – the toughest test of her career so far – with great pride, as she pushed an imperious Swiatek more than any other player has in her last 10 matches.
After measuring herself against the best in the world, these are the 19-year-old’s biggest takeaways.
Challenging Swiatek’s dominance
On paper, this was a headline fixture worthy of its Friday evening slot, with two major champions going toe-to-toe. But on the basis of 2020 French Open champion Swiatek’s current run, she is head and shoulders above the rest of the field. It made Raducanu’s performance all the more commendable.
Swiatek only took over as No 1 earlier this month, after Ash Barty’s shock retirement, but she fully deserves that spot with her victory over Raducanu extending her winning streak to 21 matches. The last time she even lost a set was over a month ago and, ahead of playing Raducanu, she had conceded just three games in her last three matches on the surface.
It is why Raducanu winning four games per set was worthy of celebration, as being anywhere close to Swiatek’s untouchable level was no guarantee.
During a competitive hour and 45 minutes on court, Raducanu grew into the tie. She managed to break Swiatek’s serve, challenged her to long, entertaining rallies and looked increasingly comfortable sliding on clay.
A confident clay debut
On Tuesday Raducanu said that clay could one day be her preferred surface. It was a bold claim, especially considering that before last week she had not played on the ‘red stuff’ in four years. But on the basis of Stuttgart, her first WTA clay event, she will feel encouraged as she has surpassed all expectations.
Her flat-hitting game, usually spent lurking on the baseline, is considered unsuited to clay and Raducanu admitted the slow surface would offer a heightened physical challenge for her, but she handled it like a pro.
You would not have guessed it was only last week that she was first re-learning how to slide when she chased down Swiatek’s heavy topspin forehands and she found ways to score a few winners with adept shot construction throughout.
She also looked less burdened by the pressure her status brings, as few count her as a contender on clay. That could work in her favour going into the French Open next month.
Fitness issues still a concern
The only major blip in this match was the medical timeout the British No 1 took in the second set. Considering how injury-prone she has been so far this season, and her own admission that she needs to become more “robust”, the left hip injury was a blight on an otherwise hugely positive performance.
Raducanu looked like she over-stretched when attempting to retrieve one of Swiatek’s winners early in the second set, and she saw fit to call on the trainer.
Though she looked comfortable for the remainder of the match, it was not the first time she has encountered this problem, as in February’s Guadalajara tournament she was forced to retire for similar discomfort in the same hip.
The hope is this will not persist as the season progresses, but with her blisters during the Australian Open and Billie Jean King Cup, and fatigue issues induced by coronavirus during the off-season, so far she is still not quite mastering managing the rigorous demands of the tour.
Mixing up defence and attack
It was revealing to see Raducanu back as the underdog, for one of the first times since her New York triumph.
Swiatek has been there herself. Like Raducanu, she was also a teenager who came out of nowhere to win her major title in 2020. It is easy to forget that, at age 20, Swiatek is only 18 months older than the Brit. On the court though, she at times looked light years ahead on Friday.
Swiatek’s superior physicality, early returns and swiping forehands mounted pressure on Raducanu and in the first set it was a challenge to merely stay within touching distance of her.
Raducanu gesticulated to her team in the stands as if to say, “what am I meant to do?”, but she also put her head down and worked hard, took more risks in order to challenge and showed excellent defensive play to throw Swiatek’s focus at times.
This was not an entirely routine win for the world No 1, and that is something Raducanu can build on.
Emma Raducanu vs Iga Swiatek – as it happened
07:09 PM
Our report on the match
Will be at the top of this blog shortly. Thanks for reading.
07:05 PM
That was an impressive display from Emma Raducanu
Against an opponent who is very much at the top of her game – and top of the world rankings.
But in just her third tour-level match on clay Raducanu gave a very good account of herself and showed she can compete against the best in the world.
Swiatek just proved too good, as she has in her last 21 matches in succession…
07:04 PM
GAME, SET, MATCH! Emma Raducanu 4-6 4-6 Iga Swiatek
Three mistakes from the world No 1 open the door for Raducanu who has two break points at 15-40!
The Briton looks to pounce on a Swiatek second serve but hits the tape, before missing a forehand by miles to bring up deuce.
Then Raducanu shovels a backhand into the tramlines which sets up match point for Swiatek… but some excellent Raducanu hitting forces an error and brings us back to deuce!
Another backhand error from the Briton sets up match point number two for the world No 1 – who takes it to win her 21st match in a row!
06:55 PM
Raducanu 4-6 4-5 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu holds serve in double-quick time without losing a point, including one booming ace out wide.
But she still needs to break Swiatek here to stay alive in Stuttgart. Can she do it?
06:53 PM
Raducanu* 4-6 3-5 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
Superb hitting from Raducanu who drags Swiatek out of position on the baseline and forces the world No 1 to slash a forehand long, which opens up break point.
But some huge hitting from Swiatek closes the door and we’re at deuce. Raducanu ekes out a second break point which is snuffed out in clinical fashion by the Pole who clubs a forehand just inside the line.
And she wins the next couple of points in comfortable fashion to close out the game.
Raducanu will be serving to stay in the match.
06:44 PM
Raducanu 4-6 3-4* Swiatek (*denotes next server)
Another impressive hold from the 19-year-old US Open champion, who seals the game with a crunching forehand which leaves Swiatek rooted to the spot.
Can she make inroads on the world No 1’s serve?
06:40 PM
Raducanu* 4-6 2-4 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
This match is slipping away from Raducanu now as Swiatek holds to love.
06:34 PM
Raducanu 4-6 2-3 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Gutsy hold from Raducanu who wraps it up with a beautiful serve down the T which a stretching Swiatek can’t get back.
06:30 PM
Raducanu* 4-6 1-3 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
Raducanu fashions a glimmer of an opening at 15-30 as Swiatek pumps a forehand long, but then clubs a forehand winner to level up at 30-30 after a huge kick second serve.
Another crunching forehand down the line gets the Pole to 40-30 and Raducanu goes wide to allow the world No 1 to hold serve.
06:27 PM
Raducanu is back on court and fit enough to continue playing
Swiatek to serve leading 6-4 2-1.
06:20 PM
A slight delay here
As Raducanu is having some treatment from the physio. It looks like she is going off court for a medical timeout so there will be a further delay.
06:16 PM
Raducanu 4-6 1-2 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu saves a break point as we head to deuce, but then pumps a backhand just too long which opens up advantage for her Polish opponent.
And after a gruelling rally Raducanu swipes a squash shot long and that’s a third break on the bounce at the start of this set.
06:11 PM
Raducanu* 4-6 1-1 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
Now then. Raducanu breaks straight back – to love!
The previously imperious Swiatek goes long with three groundstrokes in a row and this set is back on serve.
Can that be a turning point for Raducanu?
06:08 PM
Raducanu 4-6 0-1 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu makes a decent start in this service game, opening up a 30-15 lead after dominating a rally and putting away a backhand winner.
But two crunching forehands from Swiatek open up break point and she takes it at the first time of asking!
The world No 1 starts the second set in exactly the same fashion she did the first, breaking her opponent to take control. It will be an uphill battle from here for Raducanu…
06:01 PM
Swiatek takes the first set 6-4
That’s 27 sets in a row and counting for the world No.1.
That was impressive from Swiatek, she’s giving Raducanu no time to settle and her powerful, fast groundstrokes are proving hugely effective.
Raducanu has hung in there well but is being overpowered at the moment.
05:58 PM
Swiatek now serving for the first set
05:56 PM
Raducanu 4-5 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
At 40-30 Raducanu refuses to feel the pressure and holds well – hanging on well.
05:52 PM
Raducanu* 3-5 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
No long rallies in this game – Swiatek dominant again on her serve, holding to love.
Raducanu will now serve to stay in the first set.
05:48 PM
Raducanu 3-4 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Yet more powerful groundstrokes from Swiatek earn her the early advantage in this Raducanu service game. But the Briton is hanging in there and a good first serve gets it back to 30-30.
She’s ding her level best to stay with the world No.1, something not many have done recently, she stays in the rear-view mirror of Swiatek, holding to 30.
05:45 PM
Raducanu* 2-4 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
When she gets her first serve in Swiatek is so dominant in the rallies – two forehand winners illustrate just how precise the world No.1 is with her groundstrokes. They get her to 30-15, but a fantastic backhand down the line gets Raducanu to 30-30.
But from there Swiatek holds to 30, winning with her first ace.
Here’s a stat to worry Raducanu fans – the Pole has lost just six games on her serve over her past nine matches…
05:40 PM
Raducanu 2-3 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Initially good from Raducanu, she gets to 30-0, forcing two Swiatek errors. But after the point of the match so far it’s 30-30, the Briton coming off worse in a battle of delicate drop shots at the net – a good point from Raducanu, nonetheless.
But from there Raducanu forces more Swiatek errors and holds to 30. She’s very much in this match and is playing well against an impressive opponent.
05:36 PM
Raducanu* 1-3 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
Swiatek is mightily impressive as she holds to love. Her serve is strong and Raducanu was on the back foot every point of that game.
That was dominant, winning with another backhand winner.
05:32 PM
Raducanu 1-2 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Swiatek is moving well – first point she moves Raducanu around the court before coming into the net and playing a crosscourt backhand winner.
Raducanu hold her nerve, however, to get back to 30-15. But during the rallies the Briton is permanently on the defensive and the relentless Swiatek plays another forehand winner. Raducanu betters that next point but cannot capitalise on the fine forehand and it’s soon deuce.
Raducanu shows produces her first ace to earn advantage and then wins the next point to hold. That’s a good game for the Briton.
05:25 PM
Raducanu* 0-2 Swiatek (*denotes next server)
Swiatek isn’t world No.1 for no reason – her serve isn’t looking great but she does enough in this game to hold to 15, securing the game with a powerful forehand winner down the line, that was delightful.
05:22 PM
Raducanu 0-1 Swiatek* (*denotes next server)
Raducanu starts well forcing two Swiatek errors to get to 30-15. Then there’s a fine rally from the baseline that Swiatek comes out on top of. From there the world No.1 dominate – earning the first break point of the match thanks to a Raducanu backhand into the net and then next breaking the Raducanu serve – the perfect start for Swiatek.
05:18 PM
Raducanu to serve first
They’re under way.
05:13 PM
Iga Swiatek is in fine form
That is putting it mildly – she’s world No.1 and in unbeaten in 20 matches.
It’s no shock to hear that Raducanu says she’ll play without pressure, this is only her third top-level singles match on clay and she’s up against the 2020 French Open champion.
04:59 PM
Raducanu ready to play with ‘no pressure’
Emma Raducanu won back-to-back matches for the first time in six months to set up today’s quarter-final clash with world No 1 Iga Swiatek at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Last year’s US Open aside, the match is one of the 19-year-old’s toughest examinations of her career to date, the first time the Briton has played against a top-10 opponent.
“Iga is in great form and it will be an interesting match. I feel like I have no pressure going out there on clay and playing against her,” Raducanu, who is ranked 12th in the world, said after Thursday’s three-set victory over Germany’s Tamara Korpatsch. “There are no expectations on me in the match-up but I’m looking forward to seeing what happens.”
Raducanu is up to a career-high 11th in the rankings after her latest win but Swiatek is in formidable form. The Polish player is on a 20-match winning streak and coming off the back of winning both Indian Wells and the Miami Open.
In her last three matches, including her last-16 tie in Stuttgart, she has dropped just three games and is playing the kind of dominant tennis that saw her storm to the French Open title in 2020 without dropping a set.
Raducanu has seen off Storm Sanders and Tamara Korpatsch to reach the last eight in Stuttgart, the first WTA clay court tournament.
Her only previous meeting with Swiatek came in the quarter-finals of the girls’ singles at Wimbledon in 2018, when the world No 1, three triumphed in straight sets 6-0 6-1.
“I’m just going to go out there and swing because I feel like clay isn’t exactly labelled as ‘my surface’ but I get to take her on. It’s going to be a challenge for sure but one I’m looking forward to,” added Raducanu.