Emma Raducanu appears to have finally put her injury worries behind her for now and has regained some of the strength and confidence in her game that marked her as an early star – and a surprise winner of the US Open. Two years of bumps, stresses and surgeries put the brakes on, but the Brit’s game is back on track as she heads into the quarter-finals of the Porsche Grand Prix.
There she will face Iga Swiatek, world number 1 and reigning French Open champion, a huge step forward in the quality of opposition for Raducanu – but she should get a boost after recently beating Linda Noskova and Angelique Kerber after two victories in the Billie Jean Cup qualifiers representing Great Britain.
Swiatek defeated Elise Mertens in straight sets in the last 16 after a first round bye, with the winner of this tie facing Elena Rybakina in the semi-finals after beating Jasmine Paolini earlier on Friday.
Follow the match in our live blog below and check out our latest news odds and tips for all sporting events here.
Raducanu vs Swiatek – LIVE
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Emma Raducanu faces the number 1 in the world in the quarter-finals of Stuttgart
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The match will not start until 4pm BST at the earliest
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Brit was in good form with four straight wins; Swiatek also won twice in recent BJK Cup qualifiers
Raducanu misses Roland Garros
14:54 , Mike Jones
Raducanu, despite winning the 2021 US Open and achieving a career-high ranking of 10, will be fifth on the alternative players list for the French Open.
That means she needs five players to withdraw before the start of the competition to be included in the main draw. Alternatively, she must qualify or receive a wildcard to enter the tournament.
Since her success at the US Open, Raducanu has been plagued by a number of injuries and has not progressed beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.
She missed the 2023 edition when she was forced to undergo surgery on both wrists and one ankle.
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal on the Roland Garros entry list, but Emma Raducanu misses
14:48 , Mike Jones
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal have been included on the entry list for Roland Garros 2024.
However, Emma Raducanu, who currently has a protected ranking of 103, is not guaranteed a place in the women’s draw.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion, tore ankle ligaments at the Miami Open in March and has not played at Roland Garros since 2020, his only tournament since undergoing hip surgery in 2019.
Andy Murray is on the list of participants for Roland Garros, but Emma Raducanu misses
Raducanu defeats Kerber in round of 32
14:42 , Mike Jones
Emma Raducanu secured an emphatic 6-2 6-1 victory over former two-time champion Angelique Kerber in the last 32 of the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart.
Fresh from helping Great Britain reach the final of the Billie Jean King Cup this weekend, Raducanu continued her promising form on clay by powering past the home favourite.
Both Raducanu and Kerber played as wildcards in Stuttgart, with the Briton sliding down the rankings after a timeout and requiring three operations.
Meanwhile, former world number 1 Kerber only recently returned from an 18-month maternity leave.
Raducanu got off to a flying start by breaking Kerber in the opening match and despite an immediate response from the German, the 2021 US Open champion took control and claimed the first set in 41 minutes.
Kerber was broken again at the start of the second set and although she managed to level back up, Raducanu stepped up a gear and ignored a brief visit from the trainer to complete an emphatic victory.
(FATHER)
Raducanu versus Swiatek
2:36 PM , Mike Jones
“We played here in the quarter-finals two years ago, I have come a long way in two years and she has achieved a lot, I have nothing to lose, I can swing and enjoy it.
“Hopefully you will recover in time. I am fine.”
Emma Raducanu scores stunning GB victory over France in Billie Jean King Cup
2:30 PM , Mike Jones
Emma Raducanu recorded another stunning comeback win to help Great Britain qualify for the Billie Jean King Cup Finals in stunning fashion with a 3-1 victory over France.
Anne Keothavong’s team were big underdogs ahead of the clay-court qualifier at Le Portel and had lost to the same opponents in Coventry last year, but started day two 1-1 after Raducanu’s impressive three-set victory over Caroline Garcia on Friday .
Katie Boulter put her day one disappointment behind her to record an excellent 7-5 6-0 victory over world number 44 Clara Burel for a career-best victory on clay.
Emma Raducanu scores stunning GB victory over France in Billie Jean King Cup
Raducanu vs Swiatek – LIVE
14:24 , Mike Jones
Emma Raducanu puts her red-hot form to the ultimate test when she takes on world number 1 Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals of the Stuttgart Open.
The 2021 US Open champion has won four matches in a row – her best run of results since her shock grand slam victory as an 18-year-old wildcard – with her two wins at the Billie Jean King Cup at the weekend followed by comprehensive wins over Angelique Kerber and Linda Noskova.
Raducanu, who missed most of last season due to injury after undergoing surgery on her wrists and ankle, set up a mouth-watering clash with Swiatek after beating Noskova 6-0 7-5 on Thursday evening.
Raducanu and Swiatek have done it twice before – with the four-time Grand Slam champion winning both – but the Brit will be full of confidence after her recent run, despite entering the tournament with a world ranking of 303.
Here’s everything you need to know.
Start time Emma Raducanu vs Iga Swiatek and how to watch Stuttgart Open on TV
What did Raducanu say before facing Swiatek?
14:18 , Mike Jones
“This is not my best, I still have a long way to go. I’m just really happy that the rewards are starting to come on the competition field.
“You know what it’s like when you train day in and day out and feel like the results aren’t to your liking. It’s never that far away, that’s something I’m learning.
“Experiencing everything I’ve been through gives you a different appreciation. There is nothing like playing in front of fans and playing good tennis.”
How can I view it?
14:12 , Mike Jones
The Stuttgart Open will be shown live on Sky Sports Tennis. If you’re not a Sky customer, you can purchase a NOWTV day pass here to watch without a subscription.
If you’re traveling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you may need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN overview is here to help and includes offers for VPNs on the market. Viewers using a VPN should ensure that they comply with local regulations where they are located, as well as the terms and conditions of their service provider.
When is Emma Raducanu vs. Iga Swiatek?
14:06 , Mike Jones
The quarterfinals of the Stuttgart Open starts at 4pm BST (UK time) on Friday, April 19.
The match of Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek is in third place, after the meeting between Aryna Sabalenka and Marketa Vondrousova – so depending on the previous matches, the match may start a little later.
Raducanu vs Swiatek – LIVE
2:00 PM , Mike Jones
Emma Raducanu’s return to form faces its biggest test this afternoon when she takes on world number 1 Iga Swiatek in the last eight at the Stuttgart Open.
Raducanu has won her last four matches, including comprehensive wins over Angelique Lerber and Linda Noskova, and looks to be back on her feet after missing most of last season with an injury.
Surgery on her wrists and ankle kept her on the sidelines for most of the year and when she returned to the court, she was unable to match the level at which she won the 2021 US Open.
But now Raducanu meets Swiatek as the 303rd-ranked women’s player in the world – a ranking that does not reflect her potential quality – and she will be confident enough to at least challenge the Pole.
It will be a tough match, but can Raducanu deliver the ultimate shock?