It was a tale of two contrasting halves for Emma Raducanu at the Queen's Club final – a stunning comeback bid that left the home crowd on their feet, only to ultimately fall short against Croatia's Donna Vekic in a 6-0, 7-6 (6) defeat. The British tennis star was in a dark hole just moments into the match, staring down the barrel of a 6-0 first set thrashing that left her reeling – but she proved herself to be a fighter, refusing to go down without a bang.
Vekic, dubbed a 'lucky loser' from qualifying, was the one who had all the early momentum on her side. This grass-court specialist, currently ranked 76th in the world, came out swinging with her powerful serve and precision groundstrokes, leaving Raducanu struggling to find her feet and keep pace. But what Vekic lacked in finesse, she more than made up for in ferocity – and that potent two-handed backhand of hers was particularly deadly.
But when the second set got underway, something clicked for Raducanu. She began to find her rhythm, secure a crucial service game, and then break Vekic's resolve with a perfectly timed winner. The crowd, sensing their heroine's chance, went wild as she stormed into a 5-2 lead – but this is where the momentum swung decisively back in Vekic's favour. Two agonising set points slipped through Raducanu's fingers, and her opponent sensed blood in the water.
It was down to the wire in a nail-biting tie-break that had both players giving it their all. In the end, Vekic's experience and grass-court nous proved too much for Raducanu – but what an effort it was from our plucky Brit! The WTA 500 final marked a major milestone in her comeback from injury and illness, and on home soil, no less – a true testament to her resilience and determination.
Raducanu's week at Queen's has been a massive step forward for the young tennis star. Coming off two months out due to a post-viral illness and not winning a match in three months beforehand, she's been on the up – and these performances will be music to her ears ahead of Wimbledon and the rest of the grass-court season. Bring it on!