Emma Raducanu relishing first WTA Tour quarter-final challenge against Marta Kostyuk at Transylvania Open

Emma Raducanu is ready for the latest test of her remarkable progress as she prepares for her first WTA Tour quarter-final against an opponent who “destroyed" her in the junior ranks.

The 18-year-old beat Romania’s Ana Bogdan 6-3 6-4 to reach the last-eight at the Transylvania Open and set up a clash with Ukrainian teenager Marta Kostyuk on Friday evening.

Kostyuk, who is just five months older than the British No1, made her own Grand Slam breakthrough back in 2018, when she reached the third round of the Australian Open at the age of 15.

Raducanu had to wait until this summer for her own top-level emergence, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon, before going on to become the first British female Grand Slam singles champion in 44 years at the US Open last month.

"Marta is a great opponent, she absolutely destroyed me in the juniors every single time, so it will be an interesting match, I'm looking forward to it,” said Raducanu.

“But she was playing full-time and practicing, on the road, from a very young age. She developed a lot of skills doing that. I kind of came from behind and caught up this year.”

Meanwhile, Raducanu revealed she has donated her US Open trophy to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) as a “little gift” for their role in her development.

“I just think the LTA have done so much for me, and I wanted them to have it as a sign and a big thank you,” she said.

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