Emma Raducanu cruised into the quarterfinals at the Queen’s Club Championships with a 6-4 6-1 victory over Rebecca Sramkova on Thursday but fellow Britons Katie Boulter and Heather Watson were knocked out.

The stands at the Andy Murray Arena were packed for Raducanu’s victory as she advanced as the lone Briton left in the tournament and she will potentially play top seed and Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

Raducanu raced into a 5-0 lead as the 22-year-old looked at ease on the grass but Sramkova saved two set points in the sixth game, finding her range in a comeback that quickly gathered pace.

The Slovakian won four games on the trot as Raducanu’s winners dried up but the Briton then recovered and served to love to seal the opening set, flashing a sheepish smile at her team as she walked back to her seat.

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Raducanu took confidence from her first serve and she started the second set as she did the first, racing into a 4-0 lead after she quickly consolidated a double break when Sramkova made a slew of errors.

Raducanu then won the contest by converting a sixth break point, with victory confirming the former U.S. Open champion’s status as the British number one again, leapfrogging her doubles partner Boulter.

“I don’t think it was my cleanest performance, but I’m really happy to have pushed through in some tight moments that decided the first set,” Raducanu said.

“It was really helpful… to have a big roar of support to get me through that last service game. So I appreciate that.”

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina showcased her power as she fired nine aces to beat Watson 6-4 6-2 after the Briton failed to capitalise on seven break points.

Former Wimbledon champion Rybakina also became the first female player to fire 200 aces this year.

“It was a tough match, she played really well. I am pretty happy with my game, especially in the second set,” Rybakina said.

“Hopefully with every match it will be better and better. I am enjoying my time here.”

Meanwhile, Russian fifth seed Diana Shnaider fought back from a set down to beat Boulter 2-6 6-3 6-2 to set up a quarterfinal with Australian Open champion Madison Keys.

“Katie is such a lovely person, I love her with all my heart. To play her and beat her in front of her home crowd, I am so sorry,” Shnaider said.

“I hope you don’t hate me too much and come support me tomorrow!” 

Indian Super League club East Bengal FC on Thursday announced that three foreign players, Hector Yuste, Richard Celis, and Raphael Messi Bouli will be leaving the club ahead of the next season.

“The club would like to thank Hector Yuste, Richard Celis and Raphael Messi Bouli for their services. We wish them the best in their future endeavours,” the club said in a statement.

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Messi Bouli joined the Red and Gold Brigade from Chinese League One club Shijiazhuang Gongfu on a free transfer in January and made eight appearances for the club, scoring three goals and assisting one in that period.

On the other hand, Venezuela forward Celis, who was also bought in the January window played nine games and failed to record a goal or assist.

Meanwhile, Yuste, who joined from arch rival Mohun Bagan Super ahead of last season, played 25 matches across all competitions and recorded two assists.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is in talks with its Afghanistan counterpart to organise a tri-series in August involving hosts UAE if the Asia Cup gets cancelled or postponed.

This edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled to be played in September and India has the hosting rights, but Pakistan will not travel to the neighbouring country as per the hybrid model accepted ahead of the Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Therefore, there is a non-clarity surrounding the event, prompting the PCB to initiate talks with the Afghanistan board.

“With the Asia Cup now unlikely to be held in India as originally planned in September due to the simmering relations between Pakistan and India, the PCB is working on another tri-series proposal,” a well-informed source in PCB said.

“The idea is that if the Asia Cup is moved to the UAE then Pakistan will play a tri-series with Afghanistan and the UAE in Dubai in August replacing the Afghanistan tour to Pakistan,” he explained.

He said the PCB has already been in talks with the two boards to organise the tri-series.

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“If the Asia Cup is cancelled or postponed the PCB wants the Afghanistan and UAE teams to play the tri-series in Pakistan in August,” the source disclosed.

PCB Chairman, Mohsin Naqvi is the president of the Asian Cricket Council and the source said the ACC will meet soon to decide on the Asia Cup.

“The Indian cricket board is yet to confirm its willingness to host the Asia Cup at home. So, it remains to be seen when the ACC council meets and makes a call on the future of the Asia Cup which is to be held in the T20 format,” he added.