Emma Raducanu cruises past Angelique Kerber in straight sets, Coco Gauff battles past Sachia Vickery
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Updated 18/04/2024 at 06:06 GMT
Emma Raducanu eased past Angelique Kerber in straight sets to set up a last-16 meeting with Linda Noskova at the Stuttgart Open. The Brit was the more clinical player and wrapped up the victory in just shy of an hour and a half. Elsewhere, Coco Gauff came through a rollercoaster encounter against Sachia Vickery, while Ons Jabeur snapped a five-match losing streak.
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Emma Raducanu completed a comfortable 6-2 6-1 victory over Angelique Kerber to book her place in the last 16 of the Stuttgart Open.
The Brit picked up where she left off in the Billie Jean King Cup and looked sharp in downing her German opponent in less than an hour and a half.
Raducanu will next play Linda Noskova, who earlier beat Laura Siegemund in three sets.
“It was obviously very difficult to play Angie because she has so much history behind her,” Raducanu said. “You’re not just playing Angie Kerber, you’re playing the person who’s achieved all those amazing results.
“It’s definitely one you have to get your mind around and not try get psyched out and just play the ball in front of you.
“It wasn’t the prettiest match but I just really tried to focus on the next ball ahead because there were some really long games that were back and forth. I’m just happy to have got through.”
Both sets began with three consecutive breaks of serve in Raducanu’s favour as the Brit came up with the cleaner and more accurate ground strokes.
She also showed all her defensive capabilities to save nine of the 11 break points she faced in an intriguing battle.
After coming up with a big hold to move 4-2 clear in the opener, Raducanu then secured a double break and served out to take the first set.
The pair then traded blows to begin the second, but it was once again Raducanu who was the more consistent.
She eventually ended Kerber’s resistance when she moved a double break ahead at 4-1, and although she sparked fears when she called the trainer, she eased to the winning line.
Gauff comes through marathon encounter
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Coco Gauff of the United States in action against Sachia Vickery of the United States in the second round on Day Three of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Stuttgart 2024.
Image credit: Getty Images
Coco Gauff moved into the quarter-finals after a hard-fought 6-3 4-6 7-5 win over her American compatriot Sachia Vickery.
The match lasted almost two and a half hours and featured 15 breaks of serve but it was Gauff who prevailed to set up a meeting with either Qinwen Zheng or Marta Kostyuk in the last eight.
Vickery received a standing ovation leaving centre court for playing her part in an enthralling encounter, but it will be little consolation for the 28-year-old qualifier, who had a chance to move 5-2 ahead in the decider.
But Gauff, the No. 3 seed, defied 15 double faults to come up with the goods when she needed to most and book her progression.
“I just stayed aggressive,” Gauff said on court. “She played well and I think I did a good job of staying in the match.
“It’s most people’s first clay tournament of the year so are trying to find their game again and find how to play on clay again.
“When you’re higher ranked you maybe have a little more experience in the clutch moments.”
Gauff, last year’s US Open champion, raced into a 3-0 lead and saved a host of break points to come through a tight first set.
Her battling qualities were on display again early in the second as she survived another five break points but Vickery eventually made one count in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.
Remarkably, that was the first of eight consecutive breaks of serve that saw Vickery level the contest at a set apiece, with double faults mounting up for Gauff.
Gauff took a 2-0 lead in the decider before losing the next four games as Vickery got herself within touching distance of an upset win, but there was time for another twist or two.
After missing the chance to lead 5-2, back-to-back double faults gave Gauff the break back and it went from bad to worse for the qualifier.
Two love games in a row saw Gauff move 6-5 clear and she capped off a whirlwind victory with a superb crosscourt winner.
Jabeur snaps losing streak
Elsewhere, Ons Jabeur snapped a five-game losing streak with a 2-6 6-3 7-6(1) win over Ekaterina Alexandrova.
The world No. 9 hadn’t tasted success since beating Raducanu in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of February but recovered well from dropping the opening set and will face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini next.
Her struggles have had such an impact that Jabeur contemplated pulling out but will now hope she can use this victory as a springboard to rediscover her best form.
“I have thought about withdrawing from this tournament so many times because I couldn't take another loss,” she told reporters. “It was very, very difficult.”
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