Emma Raducanu reaches Queen’s final after intense day of matches
Emma Raducanu has powered her way into the Queen’s final after a gruelling Saturday that saw her triumph in two matches within five hours, reports BritPanorama.
The British No.1 first dispatched Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3 7-5 before returning to demolish sixth seed Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2 in the semi-finals.
It’s been quite the day for the 23-year-old, who sparked fitness worries when she slipped during her quarter-final and needed treatment on her left thigh. However, fresh strapping and sheer determination propelled her through to her first final on home soil and third WTA Tour-level final overall.
Raducanu was utterly ruthless against the 18-year-old American, racing to a 4-1 lead in the opening set after breaking Jovic’s serve with an 80mph winner. The world No.19 called for medical assistance while trailing, having her foot strapping redone, but it did little to halt Raducanu’s momentum.
The Brit wrapped up the first set in just 43 minutes, munching on a banana during the pause while Jovic received treatment. Fuelled by the home crowd, Raducanu broke early in the second set before the pair exchanged breaks. She then saved three break points to extend her lead, eventually sealing victory with a third break of the set.
The quarter-final against Rakhimova proved eventful, with the match briefly paused for the King’s birthday flyover at the Andy Murray Arena. More concerning was Raducanu’s mid-match slip in the second set, which left her needing a medical timeout and emerging with heavy tape wrapped around her left thigh.
She later removed the strapping during that victory, appearing for the semi-final with just a smaller patch in the same spot. Weather disruptions throughout the week’s tournament had pushed her quarter-final from Friday evening to Saturday, forcing the double-header that tested her fitness and resolve.
Raducanu will face Donna Vekic in Sunday’s showdown, with the Croatian entering as a lucky loser after falling to Anna Blinkova in qualifying just six days ago. It’s Vekic’s first final since the Paris 2024 Games.
For Raducanu, this represents her second final of 2026 following her run at the Transylvania Open in February. Last month, she reunited with Andrew Richardson, the coach who guided her to that memorable 2021 US Open triumph.
As the tournament unfolds, Raducanu’s resilience highlights her evolving journey in the sport, reminding fans how a single competition can encapsulate both challenge and triumph.
