Emma Raducanu and Elena Rybakina handled the business in singles but had to retire from their Washington doubles semifinal.
On Friday, the British tennis player defeated Maria Sakkari 6-4 7-5 to reach the Citi Open semifinal. Meanwhile, the Kazakh ousted Magdalena Frech 6-3 6-3.
Later that day, Raducanu and Rybakina returned to the court to try to clinch a Washington doubles final ticket. But after just five games and trailing 1-4 to No. 2 seeds Taylor Townsend and Zhang Shuai, the British/Kazakh pair retired from the match.
Against Sakkari, the 22-year-old Briton struggled with the heat and even had to have her blood pressure checked by the medics. And she also appeared to be unwell during the doubles match.
It was a good doubles debut for Raducanu and Rybakina
Prior to Washington, Raducanu and Rybakina never played together. And since they managed to get two wins before being forced to retire their semifinal match, it definitely can be regarded as a success.
Meanwhile, here is what the 2021 US Open champion said about the Washington conditions.
It was one of the toughest matches conditions-wise I have ever played in. Those points in the second set, I was getting a bit wobbly. I think the humidity here, it just makes it feel completely like you have just opened an oven and it just stayed open and your head is in there," the 22-year-old explained after beating Sakkari.
Today, Raducanu plays against Anna Kalinskaya in the Washington singles semifinal. On the other side, Rybakina is set to clash against Leylah Fernandez.
