Raducanu's Clay Domination

In a thrilling match at the Porsche Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Emma Raducanu showcased her exceptional skills by securing a dominant 6-2 6-1 win against former two-time champion Angelique Kerber. Raducanu's triumph followed her recent contribution to Great Britain's advancement to the finals of the Billie Jean King Cup, demonstrating her consistent prowess on clay courts.

Both Raducanu and Kerber entered the tournament as wild cards, with Raducanu facing a challenging period in her career due to three surgeries, causing a decline in her rankings. Meanwhile, Kerber, a former world No 1, made her comeback to the tour after 18 months of maternity leave.

Raducanu wasted no time in asserting her dominance, breaking Kerber in the opening game. Despite a resilient response from the German, the 2021 US Open champion maintained control, clinching the first set in just 41 minutes. In the second set, Raducanu continued her momentum, breaking Kerber early on and ultimately securing a convincing victory, even amidst a brief interruption for a visit from the trainer.

Meanwhile, at the same tournament in Stuttgart, reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff staged a remarkable comeback from a 4-2 deficit in the deciding set to defeat fellow American Sachia Vickery in a hard-fought battle.

In another captivating match, Tunisia's Ons Jabeur ended her five-game losing streak with a thrilling victory over Ekaterina Alexandrova, expressing her relief at overcoming the challenges she faced.

Elsewhere, Naomi Osaka's return to clay courts was cut short in Rouen, as she suffered a first-round defeat to Martina Trevisan. Like Kerber, Osaka returned to competition after a period of maternity leave, competing as a wild card entrant.

In the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, Britain's Harriet Dart faced a tough defeat against local player Matilde Jorge, highlighting the competitive nature of the tournament.