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Match Details
Fixture: (10) Emma Raducanu vs Serena Williams
Tournament: Cincinnati Open 2022
Date: August 15, 2022
Round: First Round (Round of 64)
Venue: Lindner Family Tennis Center, Ohio, United States
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard
Prize money: $2,527,250
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | Canada - Rogers Sportsnet, TSN | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Emma Raducanu vs Serena Williams preview
In a match where generations will collide, 19-year-old and 10th seed Emma Raducanu will take on 40-year-old Serena Williams in the first round of the Western & Sourthern Open.
At the 2021 US Open, the British prodigy became the first ever player in the Open Era to enter a Grand Slam as a qualifier and win it. However, it remains the only singles title in Raducanu's cabinet till date. Ever since her triumph in New York, the youngster has struggled with injuries and failed to even reach the semifinals in any of the tournaments that she has played.
With frequent changes in the coaching staff, multiple injuries have only added to her woes. This season alone has seen Raducanu retire mid-match on three occasions. At the ongoing Canadian Open in Montreal, she faced an unfortunate first-round exit at the hands of defending champion Camila Giorgi in straight sets. The World No. 10's win-loss record this season is 11-14.
Williams, on the other hand, has played a total of three matches this year. She returned to the tour as a wildcard at Wimbledon after a gap of 12 months but fell to Harmony Tan of France in a close first-round contest. Williams beat Nuria Parrizas-Diaz in her opening match at the Canadian Open this week to register her first win since the 2021 French Open.
The American icon announced her looming retirement from professional tennis the very next day. In the second round, 12th seed Belinda Bencic ended Williams' campaign for a fourth title in Canada, beating her 6-2, 6-4.
Emma Raducanu vs Serena Williams head-to-head
This will be the first time that the two players will face each other on the WTA tour. The head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Emma Raducanu vs Serena Williams odds
The odds will be updated when available
Emma Raducanu vs Serena Williams prediction
Last month, Raducanu broke into the top-10 of the WTA rankings for the first time. A majority of her points consists of her 2021 US Open victory, which is why, at the upcoming Western & Southern Open and the US Open, her back is against the wall. The Brit could lose a large chunk of points if she doesn't get back to winning ways.
Williams will likely enter the penultimate tournament of her career and will use that fact as a motivating factor to do her best. Not a lot, but the 23-time Grand Slam champion has got a little bit of match practice this week, which might come in handy against Raducanu on Monday.
If she can keep her unforced errors in check and improve her movement, Williams could very well score her biggest win of the season against the Brit.
Pick: Williams to win in three sets.
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