Iga Swiatek, the world number one, advanced to the Stuttgart semi-finals for the 21st time by defeating US Open winner Emma Raducanu in straight sets on Friday.

Swiatek, 20, won 6-4, 6-4 to advance to the semi-finals against Liudmila Samsonova. In Stuttgart, neither player has yet to drop a set.

“I know her since we were juniors, I have seen her progress and she is playing with a lot of confidence,” Swiatek said of Samsonova who beat Germany’s Laura Siegemund 7-5, 6-3 in her quarter-final.

Swiatek got off to a good start against Raducanu, breaking his serve in the first game and going on to win the first set.

When Raducanu was broken early in the second set, she returned the favour before Swiatek stamped her authority by converting the second of her two match points.

Despite having to take a long medical break due to a back ailment, Raducanu returned to win the first point right away before Swiatek grabbed control.

“I’m pleased with the win and I am glad the match was longer,” said Swiatek, who needed one hour, 39 minutes to seal victory.

“That will give me good experience for the future.”

After a hard-fought quarter-final victory over Ons Jabeur, Paula Badosa of Spain will move up to world number two.

“I was going after it in the last few tournaments, but didn’t get it and I was fighting a lot. It’s been my goal and I am really happy.”

After winning a marathon opening set lasting over an hour, the Spaniard stumbled in the second before rallying to seal a 7-6 (11/9), 1-6, 6-3 victory.

“It was high levels from both sides, either one of us could have won it,” added Badosa.

“I was really tired, I was feeling pain everywhere, but I am happy I fought until the last moment.”

In Saturday’s semi-finals, Badosa will play Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus who beat Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 in her quarter-final.

The result meant that Kontaveit’s streak of 22 wins indoors came to an end.

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