SEOUL, Sept. 25 (BNA) Britain’s Emma Radokano was forced to retire due to an injury during the semi-finals of the Korean Open, sending former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko to face Russian Ekaterina Alexandrova.
Radocano has suffered various types of injuries for the 2022 season, ranging from blisters to collateral strain and a groin and back problem, and was playing in her first semi-final since winning the US Open last year, according to Reuters.
The trouble began with 19-year-old Radukano midway through the second set in her first encounter against world number 19 Ostapenko in Latvia when she took medical time off the court to get treatment for a left thigh muscle injury.
Radocano, who slipped to 77th in the standings from a high on July 10, made his way back to court but won only a few points before conceding a net in the deciding set while trailing 4-6 6-3 3-0.
Ostapenko won the Korea Open in 2017 – the same year she lifted her first Grand Slam title at Roland Garros – and will next meet world number 24 Alexandrova in Seoul.
Second seed Alexandrova advanced to her second final of the season by defeating German semi-finalist Tatiana Maria 6-2, 6-4 on Saturday.
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