Boulter beats Raducanu to reach Nottingham final

Katie Boulter remains on track to defend her Nottingham Open title after beating fellow Briton Emma Raducanu to reach the final.

The semi-final tie was suspended on Saturday night, with Raducanu holding a one-set lead, as bad weather and poor conditions made play difficult and dangerous.

Boulter, 27, benefited the most from an overnight break to win 6-7 (13-15) 6-3 6-4, and will face Czech Karolina Pliskova in the final later on Sunday.

“What a match, what an incredible player,” said Boulter after the fightback against Raducanu.

“I know she is only going to get better and better and I’m just so pleased to get through this today – it was so tough.

“It has been a really tough week for me, it hasn’t been easy to get over the line and it’s tough coming in as defending champion. But so far it’s going OK.”

Saturday’s action was enthralling as the two compatriots refused to take a backwards step, each holding on serve to force a tie-break as they contended with inclement weather.

Raducanu, who slipped and fell awkwardly in that tie-break, converted a sixth set point before calling on the umpire to stop play and Boulter was in agreement.

The 21-year-old was broken in game seven and nine of the second set on Sunday as Boulter forced a decider.

Both players struggled on serve in the third and final set with five successive breaks eventually leading Boulter to the final for the second year in a row.

Earlier on Sunday, Pliskova came from behind to defeat France’s Diane Parry.

The Czech Republic player lost the opening set in a tie-break but showed character to battle back for a 6-7 (9-11) 6-1 6-4 victory.

“I’m super happy to be through, especially after losing the first set,” Pliskova said.

“It’s not usual to play three matches in one-and-a-half days but they have to play next, which is good for me, so I’ll eat, rest and get ready.”

Pliskova, who beat top seed Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals, is looking to lift the Nottingham Open title for the second time after her 2016 triumph.