Emma Raducanu conquerer makes admission about US Open star – figured out how to play her

Emma Raducanu has shown ‘ruthless streak’ says commentator

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Emma Raducanu’s poor form following her incredible US Open triumph has continued after she was defeated at the Transylvania Open. Now, Marta Kostyuk has explained how she overcame the British star in Romania, claiming that she ‘figured out’ how to play against Raducanu early on during their clash. 

This quarter-final loss was just Raducanu’s fourth official match since her stunning victory over Leylah Fernandez at Flushing Meadows. 

She was comfortably beaten by Aliaksandra Sasnovich in her first clash since that final as she crashed out of Indian Wells earlier this month. 

Raducanu’s performances improved in the early rounds of the Transylvania Open. The 18-year-old starlet was competing in the country of her father’s birth. 

Victories over Polona Hercog and Ana Bogdan earned her a place in the quarter-final, with a potential semi-final tie with childhood idol Simona Halep at stake. 

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But Raducanu disappointed on centre court. The impressive 19-year-old Kostyuk won 6-2 6-1 in a comfortable win for the Ukranian.

Kostyuk has now explained that it took until the fifth game of the first set for her to ‘figure out’ how she would beat Raducanu.

“It (the win) gives me confidence. I had this feeling, like: ‘I’m not going to lose this match’,” she said in the aftermath of her success. 

“After that, I figured out a little bit by the fifth game how to play her. [That was just] today. Maybe next time I play her it is going to be a different tactic. 

“I figured it out and the tactic obviously helped me. It was very quick and I couldn’t read her. 

“Her balls, when they are in it is really tough to do something. I was just trying to put as many balls back as I could. That’s it.”

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Kostyuk has set up a clash with former World No 1 Halep, with a place in the final on the horizon should she win. 

The pair met at Indian Wells. A gruelling first set was eventually won by Halep following a tiebreaker, before the Romanian cruished the second set 6-1.

“Honestly, I put the fight up [against Halep] for one set at Indian Wells,” Kosyuk reflected. “And then some games in the second set I didn’t play well.

“It was 6-1 in the second set, so not a big fight. I’m really hoping I can give as much fight as I can. Even if I lose, it’s an unbelievably experience. 

“I love playing Simona, she’s a very nice person. It’s another semi-final and I’m hoping to make my first final of my career. 

“I’m looking forward, always.”

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