Raducanu beats Osaka but Venus Williams loses in DC

After defeating Naomi Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, in straight sets, Britain’s Emma Raducanu has advanced to the quarter-finals of the Washington Open.

The 22-year-old defeated former world number one Osaka 6-4, 6-2, in a dominant performance following her previous upset of Ukrainian seventh seed Marta Kostyuk in round one.

After overcoming second-seed Emma Navarro of the US Open to defeat Greek Maria Sakkari, the 2021 US Open women’s singles champion will face wildcard Maria Sakkari in the final eight.

When the WTA rankings are updated on Monday, Raducanu will take Katie Boulter to the top of the world in the women’s doubles semifinals.

To set up a last-four meeting with second seeds Shuai Zhang and Taylor Townsend, she and her partner Elena Rybakina defeated Giuliana Olmos and Aldila Sutjiadi 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.

Venus Williams, the second-oldest woman to triumph in a WTA Tour match earlier this week, fell to fifth-seeded Poland Magdalena Frech, 6-2, 6-2.

Britons Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans were eliminated in the final 16 of the men’s singles.

No. 2 Briton Norrie fell to No. 3 seed Brandon Nakashima 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

American Nakashima twice broke Norrie’s serve in the second set, which was decided by a tie-break.

In the fifth game, Raducanu successfully converted her only break point, 38 minutes into the first set.

At the start of the second set, she immediately broke Osaka’s serve, and she then broke her serve for a fourth time to give the match a 4-1 lead.

With Japan’s Osaka continuing to play, Raducanu was unable to convert her seventh game point.

However, Raducanu won the third set 6-2 after squandering a second match point and saving a break point.

After the game, she told Sky Sports, “I thought it was going to be a really challenging match.”

Naomi has won four grand slams, the Masters, and the world. She’s very risky, and I believe she’s most comfortable on the court.

“I was very proud of how I managed my own service games because I knew I had to play well.” After getting a little used to her service game, I started to make some improvements.

Grand Slam Williams, a seven-time singles champion, had not played since March 2024 and was the only player to have been granted a wildcard to enter the competition.

She became the oldest woman to win a singles match on tour since Martina Navratilova, 47, in 2004 by defeating world number 35 Peyton American Stearns, who is 22 years her junior.

She said she was pleased with her comeback despite having to wait an hour and 13 minutes to lose.

She said, “I had a great time. Not the outcome I hoped for, but I did get to play a lot of matches, which was a plus. I couldn’t be happier.

“I’m sorry I didn’t have enough gas today, but I’m sorry. But I am aware that I will play better and that I am capable of doing so.