Emma Raducanu and Leylah Fernandez reach the semifinals in Washington
'I would like to say I'm pretty good in the heat for the most part but I was really struggling today,' said Raducanu, who was 18 when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles trophy. 'It was one of the toughest matches conditions-wise I have ever played in. ... Those points in the second set I was getting a bit wobbly. I'm just happy I could close it out and it was two sets.'
Also reaching the semifinals at the hard-court tournament in Washington was Leylah Fernandez, the runner-up to Raducanu at Flushing Meadows four years ago. Fernandez moved on with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) victory over qualifier Taylor Townsend on Thursday. Next for Fernandez is a matchup against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, the highest remaining seed in the field at No. 3 or No. 5 Magdanela Frech, the player who beat Venus Williams on Thursday night. Raducanu's semifinal opponent Saturday will be No. 4 Clara Tauson or Anna Kalinskaya.
The first man to reach the semifinals was Corentin Moutet, a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 winner over 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev. The match was delayed for about an hour late in the third set because of lightning in the area.
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