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Emma Raducanu Reflects on Key Improvements En Route to Citi DC Open Hard-Court Semifinal

Emma Raducanu highlights improved serve, defensive skills, and competitiveness en route to Citi DC Open semifinal.

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Emma Raducanu has identified significant advancements in her game since reaching her last hard-court semifinal some 33 months ago at Seoul in 2022. The British player showcased her growth with a notable quarterfinal victory over Maria Sakkari at the 2025 Citi DC Open, prevailing 6-4, 7-5 despite a challenging second set that saw her trail 5-2 and endure a medical check-up.

“I think 2022, the last semis I made in Seoul, the quality of opponents I have just beaten here is a lot higher, and I think also the way the tournament has moved on, every match is a lot more difficult,” Raducanu analyzed in her post-match press conference. “I’d say it’s a completely different era of tennis, and I’m playing a lot better to try and match that.”

She credited three main areas for her improvement: competitiveness, serve, and defensive skills. Raducanu said, “I think the areas I have improved I think, one, my competitiveness. I think that’s one of my bigger strengths when I am focused and in the zone. And I think that’s something I found a lot more from, you know, March this year. I think I have been a lot more focused and competitive for each point and not being flat or defeated.”

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On her serve, she noted, “The last few matches I have been getting a lot more free points. I know, like, whenever I have played well or had great results, that’s been working really well.”

Regarding her defensive game, Raducanu added, “Movement of my defensive skills have probably been the biggest improvement. I think I’m able to kind of dig out some points and stay in the points and use a bit more hand skills, slice, get an extra ball back. I think it tends, not every point, but some really important moments, it can help. I think that has improved the most.”

Raducanu’s 2025 season has marked a return to consistency, with 21 match wins, her career best in a single year outside team events. Her ranking is expected to climb from 46th to 32nd following her Washington run.

However, concerns arose with Raducanu requiring medical checks during her match and retiring from the doubles semifinal, citing the oppressive heat and humidity as factors. She described the conditions: “I think the humidity here, as well, it just makes it feel completely like you have just opened an oven and it just stayed open and your head is in there. That’s how it feels.”

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Raducanu will face Russian Anna Kalinskaya in the semifinals after Kalinskaya defeated Clara Tauson.

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Emma Raducanu’s Strong Showing at 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open Boosts Rankings and Earnings

Emma Raducanu reached the Mubadala Citi DC Open semi-final, rising to No. 33 and boosting her earnings.

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Emma Raducanu concluded her run at the 2025 Mubadala Citi DC Open in Washington, D.C., falling in the semi-final to Anna Kalinskaya in straight sets. Despite the loss, the 22-year-old Brit demonstrated significant progress, climbing the rankings and earning valuable prize money in the WTA 500 event.

Starting the tournament ranked No. 46, Raducanu opened with a straight-sets victory over seventh seed Marta Kostyuk and followed that with another two-set win against former world No. 1 and four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka. Her impressive form continued with a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over former world No. 3 Maria Sakkari to reach the semi-finals.

Raducanu’s run ended when Kalinskaya secured a decisive 6-4, 6-3 victory. Nonetheless, the week signaled a resurgence from the player who famously won the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. Semi-finalists at WTA tournaments earn 195 ranking points, but Raducanu faced the challenge of defending 108 points from her quarter-final appearance at last year’s event.

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Due to the tournament’s scheduling shift caused by the Paris Olympics, those points will drop next week, meaning Raducanu currently adds the full 195 points to her total, boosting her to 1,406 points and moving her up 13 places to No. 33 in the live rankings. When the updated rankings are released on July 28, she will be comfortably inside the top 35 and will regain the British No. 1 ranking, having lost it to Katie Boulter post-Wimbledon.

In doubles, Raducanu partnered with Elena Rybakina, and their semi-final finish earned each 195 points. This result will vault Raducanu 296 places to No. 273 in the doubles rankings.

With career prize money standing at $5,337,037—largely from her 2021 US Open victory—Raducanu has added $82,755 from Washington DC, combining earnings from singles and doubles. She earned $71,205 for reaching the singles semi-final and an additional $11,550 from splitting the $23,100 doubles prize with Rybakina.

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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina Advances to Mubadala Citi DC Open Final with Victory Over Ben Shelton

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina powered past Ben Shelton to reach the Mubadala Citi DC Open final.

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Alejandro Davidovich Fokina continued his impressive run at the Mubadala Citi DC Open by defeating Ben Shelton 6-2, 7-5 to secure a spot in the tournament final. The Spaniard, seeded 12th, showcased resilience and aggressive play throughout the match.

Earlier in the tournament, Davidovich Fokina ended the campaigns of Americans Learner Tien and Taylor Fritz. After his late-night victory over Fritz at 2 a.m., he displayed no sign of fatigue against Shelton on the courts at Rock Creek Park.

Davidovich Fokina capitalized on early first-serve issues from Shelton, combining heavy groundstrokes with strategic net approaches to claim the first set in 28 minutes. In the second set, despite twice saving break points, Shelton’s errors—including a double fault and a poorly executed forehand drop shot—allowed the Spaniard to gain a crucial break at 4-3. However, Shelton quickly recovered as Davidovich Fokina faltered with his forehand, returning the break.

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With the home crowd rallying behind him, Shelton held serve confidently, pushing the match toward a potential deciding set. At 5-5 and 15-15, Shelton missed an overhead, followed by a backhand error, giving Davidovich Fokina two break points. The Spaniard seized the opportunity, hitting a forehand winner at the net to break and then served out the match without faltering.

This win improved Davidovich Fokina’s 2025 record to 32-17, including five victories against top 10 players. He reached his first ATP final of the year in Delray Beach and also finished runner-up in Acapulco shortly after.

On Sunday, Davidovich Fokina will face seventh seed Alex de Minaur in pursuit of his maiden ATP title. De Minaur advanced to the final by defeating lucky loser Corentin Moutet 6-4, 6-3.

The final promises a compelling contest between two in-form players seeking to lift their first trophy of the season.

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Anna Kalinskaya and Leylah Fernandez Set for Mubadala Citi DC Open Final

Leylah Fernandez and Anna Kalinskaya advance to the Mubadala Citi DC Open final, both seeking titles.

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At the Mubadala Citi DC Open, Leylah Fernandez and Anna Kalinskaya will compete for the title in Sunday’s women’s final. Fernandez, the 22-year-old Canadian and 2021 US Open finalist, advanced after a grueling three-set victory against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, winning 6-7(2), 7-6(3), 7-6(3) in three hours and sixteen minutes. Fernandez’s performance included 12 aces and marked her second top-20 win of the week. Earlier in the tournament, she defeated the top seed, Jessica Pegula.

Kalinskaya, the 26-year-old Russian ranked 48th, efficiently reached the final by defeating Emma Raducanu 6-4, 6-3 in less than half the time of Fernandez’s semifinal. Kalinskaya’s precision was highlighted by 14 backhand winners in the match. Raducanu notably had beaten Fernandez at the 2021 US Open.

Both players come into the final unseeded. Kalinskaya is seeking the first title of her career in her third tour-level final, having lost her two previous championship matches last year. Fernandez, with three career titles to her name, will be competing in her seventh final overall as she aims for her first title of the season.

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Sunday’s match promises to be a compelling contest between two determined players eager to capture a significant WTA title on the hard courts of Washington.

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