Emma Raducanu earns convincing win over Angelique Kerber in Stuttgart

Tennis fans tuning in to see if Emma Raducanu had a letdown after some of her career-best play at last week's Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers between France and Great Britain quickly saw that Raducanu was on a tear.

Raducanu's aggressive play and ability to win many points off Kerber's second serve were the difference. Kerber could not match the consistency and intensity Raducanu had in her shots.

A potential turning point was in the second game of the second set. Kerber finally broke Raducanu's serve on the seventh break point opportunity. With the set level at 1-1, after the two exchanged breaks, it was Kerber's time to try to exert herself in the match. That was not to be as Raducanu broke Kerber in the third game going up 2-1 and never looked back.

The talent is there, but can she stay healthy?

Raducanu has not yet been able to match her success from the 2021 US Open when she emerged as the only champion to ever come through the qualifying rounds. Coaching changes and injuries have hampered her game, but it feels like she is on the right track and playing great tennis.

Her health and durability remain a concern as the trainer did pay a visit late in the second set, but it was unclear what the issue was.

Raducanu's only career title is the US Open, and clay-court tennis has not been her forte. Her best finish at the French Open was in the second round in 2022. She is only 21 years old and showed remarkable athleticism and shotmaking in Stuttgart in her first-ever meeting with the two-time champion and home crowd favorite, Angelique Kerber.

An equally interesting matchup awaits Raducanu in the Round of 16 as she faces 19-year-old Linda Noskova who has made a name for herself knocking off Top 10 players this year including Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and in her previous round at Stuttgart, Jelena Ostapenko. Raducanu and Noskova have met once, in the first round of the 2022 French Open when Raducanu came from behind to win the match in three sets.

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