Emma Raducanu makes ranking breakthrough by reaching the final of a WTA Challenger
Emma Raducanu’s encouraging run on the hard courts of America continued as she reached the final of the second-tier WTA Challenger event in Chicago.
The 18-year-old Briton, who wowed Wimbledon with her stunning run to the last 16 earlier this summer, beat America’s Claire Liu 7-6 (3) 4-6 6-1 in the semi-final.
A rain delay at the end of the second set seemed to benefit Raducanu as she raced away with the third.
She will face Denmark’s Clara Tauson, the world number 101, in Sunday’s final.
Raducanu is now ranked 174 and will begin her bid to qualify for her first overseas grand slam tournament at the US Open next week.
Her run in Chicago has already propelled her into the world’s top 150 and she will be closing in on the world’s top 100 if she continues this form for the rest of 2021.
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