Defending champion Katie Boulter secured victory at the Rothesay Open in Nottingham, guaranteeing a British finalist at the tournament. Boulter defeated Magdalena Frech in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, showcasing strong form throughout the match.
Raducanu vs. Boulter Semi-Final Continues Sunday
Following her victory, Boulter will now await the outcome of the semi-final between Emma Raducanu and Francesca Jones, which was halted after a thrilling first-set tie-break. Raducanu leads after winning the tie-break 15-13 in a closely contested set.
Semi-Final Resumes Sunday
The interrupted semi-final match between Raducanu and Boulter will resume on Sunday, with the winner advancing to face either Diane Parry or Karolina Pliskova in the final. Both Parry and Pliskova also have their semi-final scheduled for Sunday, ensuring a busy day of tennis at the Rothesay Open.
Tournament Impact and Additional Highlights
Men’s Challenger Event: British players Jacob Fearnley and Billy Harris advanced to the semi-finals. Fearnley will face Mattia Bellucci, while Harris progressed after Mikhail Kukushkin retired due to injury.
Jack Draper’s Success in Stuttgart: Jack Draper reached the final of the Stuttgart Open, defeating defending champion Frances Tiafoe. Draper will face Brandon Nakashima in the semi-finals, with the match scheduled to be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Sunday’s Matches to Watch
Rothesay Open: Continuation of Raducanu vs. Boulter and Parry vs. Pliskova semi-finals, followed by the final.
Stuttgart Open: Jack Draper vs. Brandon Nakashima in the final, live on Sky Sports from 12 PM.
Raducanu Takes First Set in Epic Tie-Break
Emma Raducanu took the first set against defending champion Katie Boulter, prevailing 15-13 in a gruelling tie-break. The tight contest saw both players saving break points and ultimately decided by a tense decider.
Both players spent most of Saturday waiting to get on court due to rain delays. They finally began play just after 6:30 PM but were only able to complete one set before the match was halted due to inclement weather and fading light.
Continuation and Final on Sunday
The winner of the Raducanu-Boulter match will face either Diane Parry or Karolina Pliskova, whose semi-final is also set to take place on Sunday.
Tournament Impact
The weather disruptions mean both semi-finals and the final will be played on Sunday. Pliskova, who defeated top seed Ons Jabeur in a tough quarter-final match, and Parry, who overcame Kimberly Birrell, will also have a busy day ahead.
Additional Highlights
Billy Harris and Jacob Fearnley: In the men’s Challenger event, both British players made it through to the semi-finals. Fearnley defeated third seed Juncheng Shang, while Harris advanced after Mikhail Kukushkin retired due to injury.
Katie Boulter’s Quarter-Final Victory: Boulter defeated Magdalena Frech to ensure a British finalist in Nottingham, showcasing strong form by recovering from a break down in the second set.
Jack Draper’s Success in Stuttgart: Draper reached the final at the Stuttgart Open, beating defending champion Frances Tiafoe. Draper will face Brandon Nakashima in his seventh ATP Tour semi-final.
