Emma Raducanu has kicked off her grass-court campaign with a decisive victory at Queen’s Club, signalling a confident start to the crucial summer swing. The young star, competing for the first time since her early exit at the French Open, defeated qualifier Anna Blinkova with a commanding 6-0, 6-3 scoreline to reach the second round.
Raducanu expressed her delight with her performance, highlighting a renewed sense of enjoyment and freedom on the court. “It was a really good stepping stone, and the way I was feeling on the court, the way I was moving, the way I was expressing myself, just the whole package, not necessarily the tennis, just how I kind of was acting on the court, I really enjoyed it,” she commented. “That’s something that I want to take forward in all of my matches and really embrace this grass-court season.”
This strong showing comes after a challenging period for the world No. 42. Raducanu was sidelined for over two months due to a post-viral illness, only returning to competitive action a week before Roland Garros. Her subsequent first-round defeat in Paris was visibly emotional, with the 23-year-old admitting the mental toll of navigating numerous injuries in her burgeoning career.
However, the fortnight dedicated to training and preparing for the grass season appears to have made a significant difference. Against Blinkova, Raducanu displayed a focused and offensive game. She was seen taking the ball early, redirecting shots cleanly from both wings, and aiming to dictate play with her forehand from a commanding position on the baseline.
“We have been working day in, day out since I started training again, and even throughout the clay season we have been working and putting good shifts in each day,” Raducanu explained. “You don’t know when it’s going to pay off. It’s work that’s compounded over the last few weeks.” She added, “Of course there is a lot more work to do, but I’m really just trying to enjoy the process, despite the results, keep showing up each day with the best attitude and the best commitment I can.”
British Contingent Progresses at Queen’s
Raducanu wasn’t the only British player to advance at Queen’s Club. Katie Boulter also secured her spot in the second round after a hard-fought victory against the eighth seed, Leylah Fernandez. Boulter staged an impressive comeback, recovering from a set and a break down to clinch the match with a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 7-5 scoreline.
Draper’s Injury Woes Continue
On the men’s side, Jack Draper’s injury concerns have unfortunately persisted, forcing him to withdraw from the men’s event at Queen’s Club, which is set to commence on Monday. Draper has been sidelined for two months after sustaining a knee injury at the beginning of the clay-court season. This latest setback follows a significant arm injury he endured in February.
“Recovery going in the right direction, but I’m going to give myself one more week and aim to return at Eastbourne. Very hard to miss one of my favourite events of the year,” the 24-year-old stated in a released message. He is now targeting a return at the Eastbourne tournament, expressing his disappointment at missing out on one of his preferred events.
