Emma Raducanu credits improved serve for advancing to first grass court quarter-final

The former US Open champion produced a solid display in cool, windy conditions against Ukraine's Daria Snigur to triumph 6-2 6-2, with 11 aces proving very useful.

Raducanu has been working hard on her serve, and she said: "I'm very happy to have come through that match.

"It was a really tricky one in the conditions and I'm just very happy with how I dealt with all the circumstances. Daria's a really difficult opponent so it is actually a really good achievement for me to have come through that one.

"I'm pleased for sure serving it out the first time. I served really well throughout the whole match and it did make the match a bit easier. If I had just a second serve, it would have just been a nightmare to play her.

"I've been working on every part of my game but obviously the serve is very important. It's just repetition and I'm pleased to see the rewards in competition.

"Especially what I've realised, playing the top opponents like Iga (Swiatek) or Aryna (Sabalenka), you need a first serve because they're very comfortable holding serve. If you don't have one yourself then it's very difficult."

Raducanu struggled to find her range and timing in the first couple of games against 22-year-old Snigur, who is ranked 127th and proficient on grass having won the junior title at Wimbledon five years ago.

But from 2-0 down Raducanu reeled off six games in a row before breaking twice more in the second set, while her serve helped her save seven of the eight break points she faced.

The 21-year-old was coughing and spluttering at times but played down concerns, saying: âœI'm a bit sick but who isn't? It doesn't matter.❠

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