Emma Raducanu down a break to Donna Vekic in Queen’s final

Emma Raducanu faced Donna Vekic in the final of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club, looking to win the second title of her career and her first since the 2021 US Open. After a challenging season, Raducanu suddenly found remarkable form on grass in west London, winning two matches in one day on Saturday to reach her third career final. Her victories included two against top-20 players, Sorana Cirstea and Iva Jovic, with the latter being defeated 6-2, 6-2 in the second match of a memorable day.

As Raducanu aimed for her first title in five years, former Wimbledon semi-finalist and Olympic silver medallist Vekic stood in her way, having entered the draw as a lucky loser. The match commenced with Vekic taking an early lead, and Raducanu struggling to find her rhythm on serve. At 0-4, Raducanu paused as the crowd attempted to encourage her, but a double fault led to another break for Vekic.

Vekic continued to dominate, holding to 15 with strong serves and finishing points quickly. Raducanu’s serve appeared underpowered, possibly due to the strapping on her leg from a previous slip. With Vekic generating effortless power on her serve, Raducanu sought to capitalize on any second serve opportunities.

The environment created excitement among the packed 7,000 fans at the Andy Murray Arena, providing enthusiastic support for Raducanu. The weather conditions were pleasant, with sun shining after rain disrupted the week’s schedule, forcing Raducanu to play two matches on Saturday. The British No 1's performance throughout the week was notably encouraging for her upcoming Wimbledon participation, as she likely secured a seeding with her current ranking.

Emma Raducanu’s journey to the final followed her remarkable win at the 2021 US Open, where she became the first player to win a grand slam title from qualifying. This year, she made it to a final earlier in the season at a WTA 250 event, although she lost that match in under an hour. Despite the ups and downs, Raducanu's road to the Queen's final reflected her resilient spirit and potential ahead of Wimbledon.