Last update on. From the section Tennis
Emma Raducanu aimed for her third WTA tour-level victory against Kostyuk
Marta Kostyuk, in the quarter-finals, ended Emma Raducanu’s chances of facing Simona Halep, her idol in Transylvania Open.
The US Open champion at 18 was beaten by her teenage Ukrainian opponent 6-2 6-1.
Raducanu explained to Raducanu how Kostyuk would "destroy her" when they played at junior levels.
After Jaqueline Cristian's defeat 6-1 6-1, Kostyuk will be facing Halep in four of the remaining four.
"Honestly, I don't understand how I won the first match," said Kostyuk sixth seed. She needed just 57 minutes to secure her place in the semi-finals.
"I was down to 15-40, she had the advantage, she was serving, so I believe that's where it all started. I somehow won that match and gained this confidence."
Raducanu is at the end of its road
Raducanu, 18, felt that the tournament in Romania held a special significance because her grandmother lives there and her father Ian was born there.
Raducanu is currently ranked 23rd worldwide. She won her first tour-level match against Polona Herzcog on Tuesday. Ana Bogdan won straight sets two days later.
Raducanu, however, could not match Kostyuk's stunning form during her meteoric rise.
The third seed made 41 errors unforced, compared to 16 by her opponent who is only five months older.
Raducanu suffered an early breakdown in the first set, but she began to find her range again and was able to cope with Kostyuk’s powerful serve.
However, any hopes of Grand Slam winner winning a comeback were crushed in the second set when 55-ranked Kostyuk won to win a semi-final match with Halep.
