Emma Raducanu impresses Paula Badosa ahead of Citi Open quarter-final - 'Playing great and in a good place mentally'

Emma Raducanu has carried her positive grass form into the Citi Open with a run to the quarter-finals. Her next opponent, Paula Badosa, has spoken positively about Raducanu after spending time with the former US Open champion this week. Badosa thinks Raducanu is "playing great" and is "showing a very high level". Raducanu opted to play in Washington DC instead of the Olympics.

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Paula Badosa believes Emma Raducanu has “found a balance” and is “mentally in a good place” after spending time with the former US Open winner in Washington DC this week.

Raducanu has shown signs of returning to form with some positive results on clay and grass over the last few months.

At the Citi Open in Washington DC she appears to be justifying her decision to turn down an Olympic spot with a run to the quarter-finals, where she will face Badosa on Friday.

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It will be the first meeting between the pair, but they have got to know each other by practising ahead of the tournament and spending time together away from the court.

"We went for lunch, for breakfast," said Badosa after reaching the quarter-finals.

"We spoke a lot about how tough it is to deal with all these expectations - especially in her case. I had a little bit of the same in my career. Especially when you feel that anything you do, it's going to be crazy on social media. In her case, it's like that.

"I think she's dealing with it pretty well now. She's found a balance. It's never going to be easy in her case because, as I say, anything she does, it's going to get crazy. But it's part of it. I think she has to find the beautiful part of it. That's what I'm trying to find also. It's nice that we can share our own experiences.”

With a smile, she added: “OK, now it's time for her to lose the next match.”

If Raducanu beats Badosa she will reach her most significant semi-final since winning the US Open three years ago.

It would also be a continuation of her fine grass form that saw her win eight of 11 matches across Nottingham, Eastbourne and Wimbledon.

Badosa added: “Especially here, I think these conditions, these balls - and she proved it also a few years ago with the US Open - it suits her very well.

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"She's a very fast player. She has a very fast eye also. She changes directions really well.

"And she's playing great. I mean, since Wimbledon she was showing a very high level. I think mentally she's in a good place also. I'm expecting a tough match there."

Badosa opened with a 6-1 7-6(6) win over Sofia Kenin and then advanced to the quarters after third seed Liudmila Samsonova retired with an upper respiratory illness.

Fourth seed Ons Jabeur also pulled out ahead of her opening match against Robin Montgomery due to a shoulder injury.

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"After consulting with my doctor, it has been determined that participating will aggravate my condition," Jabeur said in a statement.

"I would like to say sorry to all the fans here in Washington and the tournament, I was looking forward to performing here and getting to share fantastic moments with the Fans. Looking forward to coming back here next year healthy."

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