Emma Raducanu’s impressive run in Washington has ended after a straights-set defeat by the Anna Kalinskaya, with the Russian’s heavy ground-strokes and metronomic accuracy proving too much for the Briton.
On reaching the semi-final of the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Raducanu had enjoyed her longest run on the main tour since winning the US Open four years ago and she will be encouraged by her performances ahead of the major’s reprisal next month.
She pushed Kalinskaya hard, too, working hard to dictate points despite her opponent’s power-advantage and showing great anticipation – not to mention conditioning, given the heat – when retrieving the Russian’s especially effective forehand.
Raducanu’s serve, however, despite having improved earlier in the tournament, faltered at key moments, especially in the tightly contested first set. The relentless pressure that Kalinskaya imposed on her opponent then told in the second set and she wrapped up a deserved 6-4, 6-3 victory to secure a place in the showpiece against the Canadian Leylah Fernandez.
Kalinskaya, 26, will be hoping to win the first title of a career that has been disrupted by illness and injury, but still promises much. Raducanu’s focus will turn to the Canadian Open in Montreal, the next stage in her preparation for Flushing Meadows.
