Emma Raducanu misses further rankings opportunity – but Paula Badosa +12 after epic D.C. win

Emma Raducanu is set to jump back into the top 70 of the WTA Rankings of the Citi D.C. Open in Washington – but has missed the chance to leap even further after a battling three-set loss to Paula Badosa. After an impressive run to the fourth round of Wimbledon last month, Raducanu sealed a return to the top 100 of the WTA Rankings. And a strong start in Washington secured a further leap up the rankings as she looks to surge across the summer and beyond.

An opening three-set victory versus Elise Mertens was followed by a much more straightforward win in round two over Peyton Stearns, propelling her up 20 places to world No 69 in the live rankings. But a test against good friend and former world No 2 Badosa looked set to be a much tougher affair on paper, with the Spaniard eyeing up her own rankings rise post-injury. The 26-year-old fell outside the top 100 during the spring but has wrestled her way back into the top 70, largely due to a strong Wimbledon run – and was already projected to break into the top 60 after her run in D.C.

In a match that ebbed and flowed, Raducanu was the more clinical and aggressive of the two in the first set. But Badosa used all her experience to her advantage in the second, forcing a decider – much to the delight of the D.C. crowd. It appeared Raducanu could pull off an epic victory after she broke as Badosa served for the match in the third set, saving a match point. However, the Spaniard regained her composure to snatch victory, breaking to claim a resurgent 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 triumph.

For Raducanu, it means she will now have to turn her attention elsewhere in the hard-court summer to continue her rankings resurgence, but the signs are undoubtedly positive. Victory for Badosa is hugely significant in terms of rankings, though. By reaching the last four, the Spanish star is projected to rise 12 spots in the rankings and return to the top 50, with the 26-year-old currently a projected world No 50. In the last four, she will face home favourite Caroline Dolehide, the last American standing following her 7-6(5), 6-1 win versus compatriot Amanda Anisimova.

Meanwhile, top seed and world No 3 Aryna Sabalenka is safely through to the last four, beating former world No 1 Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 6-4. Sabalenka faces Marie Bouzkova in the last four, the Czech ending the charge of wildcard Robin Montgomery.