Emma Raducanu\u2019s scintillating early run at the Western & Southern Open has ended in a 7-5 6-4 defeat to Jessica Pegula.<\/p>\n
The British 10th seed opened her campaign in Cincinnati with impressive victories over WTA Tour veterans Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka.<\/p>\n
But the top-ranked American proved too tough a mountain for the defending US Open champion to climb.<\/p>\n
Pegula took control early in the match, dictating ground play and converting two break-point opportunities to clinch the first set.<\/p>\n
Another break early in the second then gave the world number eight the momentum she needed to secure her place in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Pegula\u2019s technical prowess disrupted the clinical tennis Raducanu exhibited in her earlier matches, with the 19-year-old giving up 21 unforced errors in the loss.<\/p>\n
Pegula beat Raducanu in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4
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Raducanu, though, is still relieved she is swinging freely again and playing the same brand of attacking tennis that took her to a maiden Grand Slam title last year, as she looks ahead to her US Open defence.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week was a great step for me,\u201d she said. \u201cIn the past year it\u2019s probably like the first tournament or like one of the few tournaments that I have actually started going for my shots more.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis week I kind of just was like, \u2018look, I\u2019m just going to try, I don\u2019t care if I make errors, like it\u2019s fine, but I\u2019m just going to overhit if anything\u2019. I\u2019m pretty proud of how I did this week, and I think it\u2019s a great step to move forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/sp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/skysports-emma-raducanu-tennis_5869106.jpg\")
\n <\/div>Raducanu is still looking forward to her US Open title defence after finding form
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Raducanu said she was tired of just trying to play defensively and realised she would not succeed at the top level by just pushing the ball around.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is definitely relieving, because I feel like I\u2019m swinging with the same sort of freedom as I probably had, more similar to last year,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo it feels really good. I think that I can really take it as a positive week, and I actually feel like I\u2019m heading in a good direction again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Norrie advances to quarters by crushing Shelton<\/h3>\n
Cameron Norrie cruised into the quarter-finals in Cincinnati with a dominant win over American wild card Ben Shelton.<\/p>\n
The British ninth seed was untouchable in the first set, dominating his 229th ranked opponent\u2019s service game to take the set to love.<\/p>\n
![\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/sp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/skysports-cameron-norrie-tennis_5869094.jpg\")
\n <\/div>Cameron Norrie has advanced to the quarter-finals in Cincinnati
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Although Shelton was able to hold serve twice in the second set, he was ultimately no match for Norrie\u2019s all-around game.<\/p>\n
Norrie wrapped up the 6-0 6-2 result in just 58 minutes to book a clash with Spain\u2019s Carlos Alcaraz.<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old eclipsed Marin Cilic in three sets in the third round and could overtake Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev for the second spot in the ATP rankings with victory in Cincinnati.<\/p>\n
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