Emma Raducanu has produced some of her best-ever tennis over the past week.
The British number one, who had endured a tumultuous start to the 2026 season, has reached the Queen’s Club Championships final.
Raducanu – playing in her third WTA final – will compete against lucky loser and former Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic for the Queen’s title.
Who will win the 2026 Queen’s final – Emma Raducanu or Donna Vekic?
Vote now!
Following her participation in London, Raducanu is set to travel north for the Nottingham Open; a tournament that was last won by McCartney Kessler.
The Nottingham Open draw, which was released on Saturday, has not been kind to Emma Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu could play Barbora Krejcikova at the Nottingham Open
Raducanu, who received a wildcard for the WTA 250 event, will begin her Nottingham Open campaign against a qualifier.
If Raducanu defeats the qualifier, she is likely to play second seed Leylah Fernandez in the second round.
If that second-round match were to occur, it would be the first time Raducanu and Fernandez contested a match since their blockbuster 2021 US Open final.
Raducanu emerged victorious on that occasion, becoming the first qualifier in tennis history to win a Grand Slam singles event.
Should Raducanu advance to the quarter-finals in Nottingham, she will most probably play 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
Emma Raducanu’s route to the Nottingham Open title
- First round: Qualifier
- Second round: Leylah Fernandez / Janice Tjen
- Quarter-finals: Barbora Krejcikova
- Semi-finals: Emma Navarro / McCartney Kessler
- Final: Iva Jovic
Krejcikova, who has been plagued by injury issues for the best part of two years, seems to have re-discovered her best form in the United Kingdom.
The Czech star has qualified for the Libema Open final this week, and she will play America’s Robin Montgomery in Sunday’s final.
If Raducanu were to move into the semi-finals in Nottingham, she is projected to play third seed Emma Navarro or defending champion McCartney Kessler.
Emma Raducanu’s last appearance in Nottingham
Raducanu last competed at the Nottingham Open in 2024.
The British star, who was unseeded at the event, began her campaign by defeating Japan’s Ena Shibahara 6-1, 6-4 on Centre Court.
Do you think Emma Raducanu has made a good decision with this hire?
Could you see her winning another Grand Slam title alongside Andrew Richardson?
She then defeated Ukraine’s Daria Snigur, booking her place in the quarter-finals.
Raducanu was due to play compatriot Francesca Jones in the last eight. However, Jones was forced to withdraw from the event shortly before their contest due to a shoulder injury.
Jones’ withdrawal sent Raducanu through to the semi-finals, where she would face fellow Briton Katie Boulter.
Boulter emerged victorious, fighting back from a set down to beat Raducanu 6-7, 6-3, 6-4.
“What a match, what an incredible player,” said Boulter afterwards, as reported by BBC Sport.
“I know she is only going to get better and better and I’m just so pleased to get through this today – it was so tough.
“It has been a really tough week for me, it hasn’t been easy to get over the line and it’s tough coming in as defending champion. But so far it’s going OK.”
Boulter went on to win the title, beating 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Karolina Pliskova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.
By beating Pliskova, Boulter successfully defended the Nottingham title she won in 2023.
