Emma Raducanu has enjoyed a stellar past week at the Queen’s Club, but was sadly unable to convert that success into a trophy.
Alas, she came so close, making it all the way to the final, where she simply ran out of gas.
Her fatigue was clear for all to see, and despite having two opportunities to serve out the second set, her exhausted expressions after nearly every point perfectly exhibited what a huge physical toll this match was having on her.
After such a busy week, that was to be expected.
However, it could be argued that this was wholly avoidable, and that instead the Queen’s schedulers let Emma Raducanu down.
Emma Raducanu’s fatigue was caused by the Queen’s schedule
After all, Donna Vekic, the eventual champion, didn’t have to play twice in one day.
Instead, her matches were distributed across various courts, thus allowing her to play on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Raducanu, meanwhile, as the organisers desperately scrambled to get their best British stars on the Andy Murray Arena, instead had to play on Friday, then twice on Saturday, before the final on Sunday.
How far do you think Emma Raducanu will go at Wimbledon after watching her at Queen’s?
Whilst Katie Boulter was battling with Elena Rybakina, the 23-year-old instead watched from the stands, when the organisers could have put her on Court 1 and helped streamline the process.
Playing around three hours of tennis across two matches on just one day unsurprisingly took a huge physical and mental toll on the Brit, and one that definitely impacted her performance in the final.
She still gave a good account of herself, and Vekic was phenomenal throughout that match. But Raducanu can feel somewhat frustrated that such a gruelling Saturday paved the way for her tiredness on the Sunday.
Emma Raducanu explains how two matches in one day impacted her
She did allude to this in her post-match press conference.
Asked if it had played a part, Raducanu admitted: “Yeah, I think part of it. I think Donna also didn’t allow me to really play my game. She came out serving very well, and hitting, striking from the back really well. The first service game I didn’t really make a first serve, so that was straightaway a break.
At which Grand Slam is Emma Raducanu most likely to win a second major title? Let us know why below 👇
“But, yeah, of course, like, fatigue, and you’re not driving up as much for your serve, which is such a big thing on grass. It’s just been an amazing week, but it’s also been a long week, waiting around and some long days.
“Yeah, I think everything happens for a reason. You know, that’s what I’m clinging onto right now (smiling).”
Raducanu answered with grace and respect regarding this issue, but there must be a feeling that, had she not played two matches in one day the day before the final, when other courts were available on the Friday, that Sunday’s match could have been so different.
