Emma Raducanu made it three wins in a row as she claimed a dominant victory over Magda Linette to reach the semi-finals of the Korea Open.
The former US Open champion converted four of five break points and recorded a first-serve win percentage of 96 on her way to a 6-2 6-2 rout to reach the last four of a WTA Tour event for the first time.
With the win, Raducanu is set to move back up the WTA rankings having also won three matches in a row for the first time since her victorious 2021 US Open campaign.
“I think Magda was feeling it a bit physically,” Raducanu told reporters. “She’s had a lot of matches and good wins because she’s a really tough player, and sometimes it catches up with the body.
“I think it’s pretty cool to make my first semi-final and build my way on tour the right way, to go through the stages.”
Raducanu, who fell at the first hurdle in defence of her US Open title last month, has slipped to 77th in the world rankings from a career-high of 10th but could return to the top 50 if she can win the title.
She made a flying start, twice breaking Linette and comfortably holding her own serve on her way to a 5-1 lead before sealing the first set after 35 minutes.
Linette, who lost to Czech Republic teenager Linda Fruhvirtova in the Chennai Open final last week, immediately hit back in the second, winning her opening service game to love.
The 30-year-old Pole then led 0-40 on Raducanu’s serve, but the British number one dug deep to save three break points before breaking the Linette serve twice in succession.
Linette’s physical struggles were becoming more and more evident and, although she held to force Raducanu to serve it out, that proved no problem for the Kent teenager.
Raducanu will meet Latvian top seed Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday for a place in the final.
