Emma Raducanu’s dream of winning the Queen’s Club Championships was ended on Sunday afternoon.
Donna Vekic, a lucky loser in London, defeated Raducanu 6-0, 7-6 to claim her fifth career WTA title.
Vekic dictated the tempo throughout the first set, putting Raducanu on the back foot whenever the opportunity arose.
However, Raducanu quickly turned the tide in the second set, breaking Vekic’s serve twice and establishing a 5-2 lead.
Unfortunately for British fans, Raducanu was unable to capitalise on her opportunity, eventually losing the decisive tiebreak 8-6.
How far do you think Emma Raducanu will go at Wimbledon after watching her at Queen’s?
Raducanu played superbly throughout the second set. However, her wait for a first WTA title since winning the 2021 US Open goes on.
Despite the disappointment, one obvious positive has emerged from Raducanu’s campaign in West London.
Emma Raducanu made the right decision re-hiring Andrew Richardson
Emma Raducanu’s greatest success to date – winning the 2021 US Open – was achieved while under the tutelage of coach Andrew Richardson.
Raducanu parted ways with Richardson shortly after her triumph – a decision that more and more looks like a mistake.
Five years later, Raducanu is again playing her best tennis under Richardson’s guidance.
Of course, not all of Raducanu’s uptick in form can be attributed to Richardson; Raducanu has undoubtedly worked hard to improve her game and is the main contributor to her own success.
With that being said, it is clear that Richardson has a positive influence on Raducanu.
With Richardson’s influence noted, Raducanu must look to keep the British coach in her team for the long term.
Emma Raducanu’s Queen’s Club campaign
- First round: defeated Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-3
- Second round: defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-2
- Quarter-finals: defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 7-5
- Semi-finals: defeated Iva Jovic 6-2, 6-2
- Final: lost to Donna Vekic, 6-0, 7-6
Raducanu has worked with a plethora of coaches since splitting with Richardson in 2021 – including Mark Petchey, Francisco Roig and Dmitry Tursunov.
It is time for Raducanu to stick – rather than twist – with her coach.
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?
What next for Emma Raducanu?
Following her defeat in London, Raducanu is set to travel north to Nottingham.
Raducanu, who last competed at the WTA 250 event in 2024, has received a tough draw.
If the Briton advances past a qualifier in the first round, she will likely play second seed Leylah Fernandez.
If that match occurs, it will be the duo’s first Tour meeting since the 2021 US Open final.
Should Raducanu advance to the quarter-finals, she will likely face 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova.
However, Krejcikova’s participation in the event has been cast into doubt following her withdrawal from the Libema Open final.
Krejcikova, also a Roland Garros singles champion, pointed to an upper respiratory illness as the reason for her withdrawal.
