Emma Raducanu has made it clear—the chains are off. In a bold bid to rediscover the spark that once defined her, the Brit is heading into her Korea Open quarterfinals with a fresh mindset. Hungry for results but free from the crushing weight of expectation, Raducanu has shifted the pressure to her next opponent, determined to let her tennis speak for itself.

The 21-year-old entered the WTA 500 event in Seoul on the heels of a disappointing US Open exit, her season plagued by inconsistency. But with the determination of a champion, Raducanu has already turned heads in Korea. In her last match, she outclassed the No. 8 seed Yuan Yue, 6-4, 6-3, securing her spot in the final eight. Next up? Daria Kasatkina, a familiar foe who defeated Raducanu earlier this year at the Eastbourne International.

But this time, Raducanu isn’t intimidated. In her post-match interview, the former World No. 10 acknowledged that the hardcourt surface in Seoul suits Kasatkina’s game, yet welcomed the challenge with open arms. “I have nothing to lose,” she declared, pointing to the ranking gap between them—Kasatkina sits at World No. 13, while Raducanu is down at 70. The head-to-head record may favor Kasatkina, who leads 2-0 and hasn’t dropped a set to Raducanu, but the young Brit is playing with renewed confidence.

She said, “I think these courts suit her because they bounce quite a bit. But for me, every time I get exposure to that top level of opponent, it’s invaluable. It allows me to build confidence. It’s a match where I don’t have anything to lose.” For the uninitiated, the Briton’s boosted morale is likely due to her fondness of the event. Raducanu earlier addressed the Korean Open crown it is her favorite destination on the Tour. The 21-year-old also took an oath to familiarize herself with her Korean linguistic side. After struggling through the season, the young talent wants to rid herself of mediocre results.

Having significantly missed out on several events, Raducanu aims to keep her participation at an all-time high for the remaining calendar. After all, her previous decision bore no fruit.

Emma Raducanu to compensate for inconsistency with Asia swing

The British star made a fatal error this season. Emma Raducanu opted out of the Paris Olympics to choose to focus on the North American hardcourt swing. However, those plans delivered average results – a quarterfinal at the Citi Open and an early exit in New York. A discontent Raducanu admitted she should have played more. Subsequently, the young talent decided to make amends by stacking her calendar for the remaining season.

Naturally, Raducanu will extensively tour the Asia hardcourt camps, with the China Open and Wuhan Open on her list next. While talking to the WTA Tour, the British star said, “I think the rest of the year, as long as I’m healthy, I’m going to try and finish the season and play as many matches as I can.”

Although Raducanu’s new schedule might help her regenerate her long-lost form, her Korea Open quest needs to pack a wallop. With Kasatkina as her QF challenge, the Briton will aim to deliver her best and with it, dig deeper to clinch her maiden title of the year.

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