Emma Raducanu’s impressive summer run has hit a roadblock at the Citi D.C. Open in Washington, where she was defeated in a gripping three-set match by Paula Badosa.
Raducanu, who recently broke back into the WTA Top 100 after a strong Wimbledon performance, looked set to continue her ascent in the rankings. Her campaign in Washington began promisingly with a tough win over Elise Mertens followed by a more comfortable victory against Peyton Stearns, pushing her up to world No. 69 in live rankings.
However, in the quarterfinals, she faced a formidable opponent in Badosa, a former world No. 2 on her own comeback trail. Despite Raducanu’s aggressive start and a strong showing in the first set, Badosa fought back, ultimately securing a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 win.
With this victory, Badosa is projected to climb 12 spots in the rankings, potentially re-entering the Top 50.
Meanwhile, Raducanu will need to focus on upcoming tournaments to continue her quest to rise further in the rankings.
