Raducanu should have won this match more easily. Oliynykova is ranked inside the world’s top 100 but her win against Chinese fourth seed Wang Xinyu in her quarter-final was her first against a top-50 opponent and this was her first WTA Tour semi-final. However, there were signs right from the off that the “bat girl” might prove a pain in the neck for Raducanu.
Raducanu’s cleaner ball-striking and fewer errors eventually saw her break her opponent at 4-4 in the first set and the 23-year-old served out to love. But after going 3-1 up at the start of the second set, Raducanu lost focus. Her first-serve percentage dropped, her unforced error count crept up and three breaks of serve in four service games allowed Oliynykova, showing Dracula-like powers of resurrection and hitting endless moon balls, to level at one set all.
The deciding set, for which Raducanu changed her outfit, was a mad, see-sawing affair. Raducanu went a break down, then won four games on the trot (including a run of 16 straight points at one stage) to go 5-2 up, before stuttering again when trying to close the match out. Raducanu lost three match points at 0-40 on the Oliynykova serve at 5-2 before finally closing out victory.
With Katie Boulter making the final of the Ostrava Open, beating world No 96 Katie Volynets 6-1, 6-3 in the Czech Republic, Saturday will mark the first time two British women contest WTA-level singles finals on the same day.
Meanwhile, after winning his comeback match on Thursday, Britain’s men’s No1 Jack Draper opted to pull out of the Davis Cup qualifier against Norway in Oslo.
Leon Smith’s side advanced regardless and will face either Australia or Ecuador in the second round in September.
“I was proud to represent my country in the Davis Cup this weekend,” Draper said in a statement. “While I am feeling positive about how my recovery is going I have been advised not to rush straight out and potentially compete in back-to-back matches in Rotterdam next week. As disappointed as I am not to be back out there, overall I am trending in the right direction. Thanks for all your support.”