A year into her apprenticeship as a newcomer at the top of her sport, every new week of competition brings new reminders of Emma Raducanu’s precociousness. Just two weeks ago, she played her first professional doubles match. She had never faced a multiple grand slam champion until this week when she demolished two in a row. On Thursday evening, finally, she stepped out onto the court against a top 10 opponent for just the second time of her life.
Standing before Raducanu was Jessica Pegula, one of the most improved players in recent years, and on a cool night in Mason, Ohio the American gave an exhibition of the level required to hang with the very best players in the world as she ended Raducanu’s bright run at the Western and Southern Open. In an intense battle that demanded high octane first-strike tennis, Pegula’s greater firepower and consistency won out as she defeated Raducanu 7-5, 6-4 in the third round.
