Emma Raducanu beats American Claire Liu to reach the final of the WTA Chicago Challenger ahead of the US Open with youngster set to enter the world top 150
- British tennis star Emma Raducanu is in the final of the Chicago Challenger
- She beat the USA’s Claire Liu in the semi-final and is set for the world’s top 150
- Raducanu has been enjoying a good spell since her Wimbledon exit in July
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.
British tennis star Emma Raducanu has reached the final of the Chicago Challenger
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.
She made headlines with her impressive displays on home soil this summer at the All England club – but was forced to withdraw from her match against Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic after receiving medical attention on court.
She was forced to pull out of Wimbledon at the last 16 after receiving medical attention
Raducanu said she had began to ‘breathe heavy’ and felt dizzy midway through the second set.
‘The medical team advised me not to continue. And although it felt like the hardest thing in the world not to be able to finish my Wimbledon on the court, I was not well enough to carry on,’ she wrote on social media.
‘I will cherish everything we have achieved together this week and come back stronger! Can’t wait to see what’s next on my journey.’