Recent losses against Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, according to Emma Raducanu, served as the impetus for her to make adjustments to her serve, which ultimately led to her advances to the quarterfinals of the Nottingham tournament.

Raducanu advanced to the final eight of a WTA grass-court competition for the first time on Thursday by defeating Daria Snigur of Ukraine in straight sets. This became Raducanu the first player to do so.

Following defeats at the hands of World No. 3 Sabalenka in March on the hard courts of Indian Wells and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek in April on clay in Stuttgart, she has achieved triumph on her own turf here in the United States.

“I’m very happy to have come through that match,” Raducanu remarked after smashing 11 aces in the victory that he accomplished by a score of 6-2 6-2.

“It was a really challenging one in the conditions, and I’m just very pleased with how I handled all of the circumstances,” she said. Because Daria is such a challenging adversary, the fact that I was able to prevail over her is actually a very satisfying accomplishment for me.

Highlights of the Stuttgart Open quarter-final between Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek.

“I am thrilled to say that I was able to serve it for the very first time. I served pretty effectively throughout the whole round and it did make the match a bit easier. I would have had a terrible time playing her if I had even a second serve. It would have been a nightmare.

I’ve been working on improving every aspect of my game, but the serve is undoubtedly one of the most essential aspects. It’s merely repetition and I’m glad to see the results in competition.

“In particular, what I’ve realized is that when you face the best opponents, such as Iga (Swiatek) or Aryna (Sabalenka), you need to have a first serve because they are very comfortable holding service. If you don’t have one yourself then it’s very difficult.”

Highlights of the Stuttgart Open quarter-final between Emma Raducanu and Iga Swiatek.

Raducanu has been without her coach Nick Cavaday in Nottingham due to him being unwell, but has instead had former British professional Jane O’Donoghue supporting her.

O’Donoghue, who twice reached the second round of Wimbledon during her own career, previously worked with Raducanu in her capacity as an LTA coach.

Raducanu struggled to find her range and timing in the first couple of games against 22-year-old Snigur, who is rated 127th and competent on grass having won the junior title at Wimbledon five years ago.
Highlights of the round of 32 match at the Indian Wells Open between Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka.

But from 2-0 down Raducanu pulled off six games in a row before breaking twice more in the second set, while her serve helped her save seven of the eight break points she faced.

The 21-year-old was coughing and spluttering at times but brushed down worries, saying: “I’m a bit ill but who isn’t? It doesn’t matter.”