Raducanu’s dream US Open run continues with Rogers thrashing

Emma Raducanu of the United Kingdom (left) at the net after beating Shelby Rogers of the USA on day eight of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA - Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters): British teenager Emma Raducanu continued her dream run at the US Open on Monday by overwhelming American Shelby Rogers 6-2 6-1 to reach her first Grand Slam quarter-final.

Going through qualifying to get to the last eight at a major is a stunning accomplishment by itself, but the 18-year-old has done it without dropping a set.

Raducanu, who burst onto the scene in July by reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon on her Grand Slam debut, has gone one better at the US Open in dominant fashion.

After a 6-0 6-1 hammering of Sara Sorribes Tormo in the previous round, Raducanu was nearly as ruthless against Rogers as she dispatched the last American in the women’s draw in 66 minutes.

“It feels absolutely amazing to play in front of all of you and Shelby is a great opponent... she’s had a great week so I knew it was going to be a tough match,” Raducanu said on a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium, with the crowd buzzing over what they had witnessed.

Up next for the youngster is Swiss 11th seed and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic, who advanced with a 7-6(12) 6-3 win over Polish 2020 French Open champion Iga Swiatek.

The quarter-finals will feature two teenagers with Canada’s Leylah Fernandez, who celebrated her 19th birthday on Monday, taking on fifth seed Elina Svitolina for spot in the last four.