Emma Raducanu suffered an awkward fall before fighting back to win the first set of her all-British semi-final battle with Katie Boulter at the Nottingham Open.
However, the match was suspended due to concerns over the slippery surface.
There was nothing to separate the two players as the match entered a tiebreak but at 3-1 down, Raducanu slipped on the wet grass behind the baseline and landed painfully. After walking to her chair, Raducanu called for the tournament physio and then informed the umpire she was OK to continue.
Boulter, the defending champion, and Raducanu were both forced to save set points then on the 24th point, the 2021 US Open champion got the better of her opponent at the sixth attempt and finished the set with an overhead winner.
After Raducanu told the umpire that the court conditions were too slippery, tournament referee Jane Harvey carried out an inspection and informed the players that play would be halted to resume on Sunday.
More to follow…
08:30 PM BST
Busy Sunday at the Nottingham Open
The wet weather means the first semi-final between Diane Parry and Karolina Pliskova needs to start before the semi-final between Raducanu and Boulter resumes.
Then the final can be played after a suitable break.
08:20 PM BST
Reaction on social media
Great match up between Radacanu and Boulter. Nothing much to choose between them. Boulter had the greater weight of shot but Radacanu is faster and a fraction more consistent. Raducanu snatched the1st set 7-6 (15-13 on the tie break). Play resumes tomorrow.
— Stephanie Hawthorne (@HawthorneSJJ) June 15, 2024
Such a great set with lots of quality play from both players! Really happy that Emma Raducanu won the set though. She fought really hard and deserved to win the first set 😊
— Marie ミ☆ (@Deanoru4Life) June 15, 2024
That was a great tiebreaker. Great composure from Emma Raducanu, especially after that slightly worrying slip.
— Dinesh (@Sanassee) June 15, 2024
08:14 PM BST
Concern for Raducanu
08:02 PM BST
WATCH: The final point before play was suspended
07:57 PM BST
Match suspended
After winning the set, Raducanu tells the umpire that the court is too wet. The tournament referee comes out and wipes her hand on the court.
Raducanu takes a seat and the referee walks over to Boulter and tells her that one side of the court is more slippery than the other and says they don’t want to take any risks so they are suspending the match.
07:53 PM BST
Raducanu 7-6 Boulter – TIEBREAK
Boulter first serve unreturned by Raducanu, 12-13. Raducanu first serve unreturned by Boulter, 13-13.
Boulter forehand long, 14-13. Cat and mouse rally, Raducanu comes out on top with an overhead winner, 15-13.
07:49 PM BST
‘Crowd are getting full value’
The crowd are getting full value for their patience on another trying day in Nottingham with this epic battle of the Brits.
It’s not an easy shift though. One woman is huddled under a light blue blanket in a woolly hat with just her nose showing.
Can’t blame her.
07:49 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 Boulter – TIEBREAK
Raducanu nets a drop shot, 9-10. Boulter double fault, 10-10. She can’t believe it. Boulter forehand into the net, 11-10. Fourth set point for Raducanu…
Mis-hit by Raducanu, the ball sits up nice for Boulter, who whips a lovely forehand into the corner for a winner, 11-11.
Boulter goes long with a forehand, 12-11. Brilliant serve by Boulter down the T, 12-12.
Nothing to separate these two women.
07:44 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 Boulter – TIEBREAK
Boulter forehand winner, 6-7. She then misses with a backhand to waste a set point, 7-7. Unreturned Raducanu serve down the T, 8-7.
Raducanu backhand return long, 8-8. Backhand approach by Boulter isn’t good enough and that allows Raducanu to make the forehand pass, 9-8. Wow. Incredible forehand down the line by Boulter catches the angle of tramline and baseline, 9-9.
On we go…
07:41 PM BST
‘Huge relief’
Huge relief around Centre Court that Raducanu’s slip didn’t lead to anything worse than a quick sit-down and drink.
The physio was called but when Raducanu rose from her chair, not needing attention there was a warm round of applause.
07:40 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 Boulter – TIEBREAK
Defensive Boulter backhand goes wide, 3-4. Raducanu’s movement seems to be OK…
Boulter double fault, 4-4. Backhand by Boulter drifts wide, 5-4. Four points in a row for Raducanu.
Boulter hits back with a forehand winner, 5-5. Raducanu gets low and crushes a backhand winner, 6-5.
Big first serve, high Raducanu return and Boulter puts away the drive forehand winner easily, 6-6.
07:35 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 Boulter – TIEBREAK
Drop shot by Boulter, Raducanu chases down the ball but her flicked shot down the line is called out, 0-1. Raducanu looks unconvinced by the ball. Raducanu forehand long, 0-2. Boulter forehand return into the net, 1-2.
Another forehand long by Raducanu, 1-3. Boulter forehand winner wrong foots Raducanu, who slips awkwardly, 1-4.
She calls for the physio to look at her left knee. The last thing she needs is another injury. But Raducanu decides to carry on without the physio and on the next point strikes a nice forehand into the corner, 2-4.
07:29 PM BST
Raducanu 6-6 Boulter*
Fitting that this evenly fought first set goes to a tie break as Raducanu holds to 15 when Boulter dumps a backhand into the net.
Now the pressure will ramp up!
07:24 PM BST
Raducanu* 5-6 Boulter
Boulter continuing to look very calm and composed on her serve at the moment as she moves to 40-15. Raducanu will be frustrated by the amount of returns she has failed to get back into play.
But a backhand into the net by Boulter opens the door slightly for Raducanu at deuce. Boulter though responds to the pressure, finding her first serve to see out the game.
07:18 PM BST
Raducanu 5-5 Boulter*
Great hustle by both players but Raducanu comes out on top. Great return by Boulter, Raducanu some how gets the ball back and Boulter races for the short ball and hits drop shot. But she doesn’t do enough because Raducanu chases it down and flicks a backhand into the open court for a winner, 30-15.
Raducanu forehand down the line is too hot for Boulter and she holds serve.
07:13 PM BST
Raducanu* 4-5 Boulter
Back-to-back love holds for Boulter. Raducanu is struggling to read the direction of the British No 1’s serve. Pressure now on Raducanu to hold serve and prolong the set.
07:10 PM BST
Raducanu 4-4 Boulter*
Raducanu appears to have the upper hand when the rally goes beyond five shots. Her backhand is holding up well with the low bounce on the grass court. Raducanu holds to 15.
07:07 PM BST
Raducanu* 3-4 Boulter
Love hold for Boulter. Still waiting for the match is come alive but as we enter the business end of the set, the tension should increase.
Both players are performing solidly without taking control and dominating.
07:03 PM BST
Raducanu 3-3 Boulter*
Raducanu under a little bit of pressure here as she slips to 0-30 with a double fault. She gets back into the game when Boulter pushes a backhand long but faces two break points when a backhand is called long. Raducanu questions it but the call stands.
Boulter wastes the first break point with a forehand return into the net. And Raducanu saves the second when she takes charge of the point, moving Boulter right then left before Boulter’s defensive backhand flies wide.
Big roar of ‘come on’ by Raducanu as she holds onto her serve.
06:57 PM BST
Raducanu* 2-3 Boulter
One of the stories at the Nottingham Open this week has been contentious line calls. In back-to-back points, Raducanu and Boulter glance at the line judges over close calls.
Break point for Raducanu after a brilliant backhand winner. Boulter responds with a great wide serve which Raducanu fails to get back into play.
That gets the crowd going. Super rally by both players. Longest of the match and Raducanu earns another break point when Boulter nets a backhand. But once again Boulter responds with a timely first serve that’s unreturned.
And the British No 1 comes through that scare to hold serve and maintain her lead.
06:46 PM BST
Raducanu 2-2 Boulter*
Serve is king at the moment as Raducanu holds to love quickly. Raducanu’s slightly tweaked serve has started very strongly.
06:44 PM BST
Raducanu* 1-2 Boulter
Back to back aces from Boulter takes her to 40-15. Although they have never met each other in a match, they have practiced together at the Billie Jean King Cup.
So they will know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
06:41 PM BST
Raducanu 1-1 Boulter*
Raducanu follows Boulter with a hold to 30. Slightly subdued atmosphere with the match yet to catch fire.
06:36 PM BST
First Set: Emma Raducanu* 0-1 Katie Boulter (*denotes next server)
Confident start by Bouler, as she holds to 30, with a couple of unreturned serves helping her along the way.
Both player looking to tee off on their forehand side early on.
06:33 PM BST
Here we go!
After a lot of delays due to rain, we are about to get underway in Nottingham in what should be a fascinating match.
Will be very interesting to see who gets the most support…
06:25 PM BST
First career meeting between Raducanu and Boulter
01:02 PM BST
Raducanu vs Boulter in all-British semi-final
Hello and welcome to coverage from the Nottingham Open as Emma Raducanu takes on Katie Boulter in a ‘Battle of Britain’ clash.
Raducanu reached her first semi-final since 2022 after Fran Jones withdrew from their quarter-final earlier today due to a shoulder injury.
Raducanu has looked in good form on her return after a six-week hiatus to prepare for the grass-court season, beating Ena Shibahara and Daria Snigur on her way to the last eight.
That set up an all-British blockbuster between Raducanu and defending champion Boulter. Boulter won her quarter-final on Friday as she looks to retain the title she won last year.
Jones was on court on Friday afternoon ready to play Raducanu before rain forced play to be abandoned for the day and she woke up on Saturday and chose to withdraw.
Jones said: “Unfortunately today I’ve had to withdraw from what was an exciting match with Emma.
“Hopefully everyone can understand that with the big events coming up, I’m not in a position to be taking many risks especially with my last couple of years.
“I think it’s a massive shame, I’ve really enjoyed playing this week and I’ve played at a good level, but I need to continue to think big picture which has got me into the place I’m in so far this year.”
Source Agencies
