The event’s top seeded player from China, the world number 5, Zheng Qinwen began the third Quarter-Final match of the event with a double fault, and struggled with her first serve in the opening game but managed to win the game after serving an ace. Raducanu, with the local crowd behind her all week, started well by playing her shots with depth and decent pace.
In the 5th game of the ongoing first set, Raducanu had impressively already saved 5 break points. The Chinese player, after slipping and failing to return the ball, went to her chair and changed her shoes; saying to the umpire “I slipped two times.” This happening during the game did not sit well with the crowd, although they did not boo her; they were obviously disgruntled. She returned to break the Raducanu serve and she lead 4-2.
Raducanu stunningly kept up with the weight of the Zheng serve and shot-making; she earned two break points in the following game after defensive play, and managing to chase down a drop shot to hit a cross court forehand winner. Those break points were saved however by the top seed and she was one game away from winning the opener.
Zheng Qinwen won the set by 6 games to 2 after 49 minutes.
Zheng Qinwen lost the opening game of the second set due to her inconsistency on serve. This has been her problem in this tournament so far; while she hasn’t denied her inexperience on the grass courts, she is not nearly as comfortable as she usually is on hard courts. She is slightly better as well on clay.
Raducanu consolidated the break of serve and the score board read 2-0. The tables turned on the top seed with the momentum fully on the Brit’s side. Raducanu got a double break of serve and lead 3-0. After 4 games played in the second set, Zheng’s aggressive style of play was on full display. She retrieved a single break back. Raducanu stepped up to the line to serve up 3-2. She served brilliantly and held to love.
As the match wore on the momentum shifted toward China’s star player. She got back on serve after 8 games played in the second set.
A short 5 rally exchange ended the 9th game. Zheng held her serve to lead 5-4. Raducanu served to stay in the match and quickly faced 3 match points. Zheng squandered all 3 match points, firing the Raducanu serves off-court. She finally sealed the win though and won the match 6-2 6-4. She is through to a career first Semi-Final at a grass court tournament. She ended the match with 26 winners to 23 unforced errors. She awaits the winner of the All-American encounter between Emma Navarro/Amanda Anisimova.
