Emma Raducanu restored belief with a ruthless opening display at Queen’s, brushing aside Anna Blinkova in style.
The British number one stormed through the first set to send a strong message ahead of Wimbledon.
She raced through eight straight games without reply, sealing a dominant 6-0 6-3 victory. It marked her first win since March as she ended a frustrating spell disrupted by illness.
“I’m so happy to have come through that match,” she said, clearly relieved after months away.
“There isn’t a place I would rather have done it.”
Raducanu had struggled since Indian Wells, sidelined by a post-viral condition that halted her momentum. As a result, her clay return brought defeats in Strasbourg and Roland Garros.
However, the shift to grass seemed to revive her rhythm and confidence instantly. She played freely, smiling often and feeding off the home crowd’s energy.
“The way I was feeling on the court… I really enjoyed it,” Raducanu admitted afterward.
“It felt free, it felt clear,” she added.
Raducanu finds rhythm again as grass season ignites Wimbledon momentum
Rain briefly paused her charge, but it did little to break her focus or tempo. She dominated early exchanges, striking 11 winners with minimal errors.
Although the second set proved trickier, she stayed composed under pressure. A series of breaks briefly leveled the contest before she regained control.
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A fortunate net cord helped her edge ahead again, setting up the decisive moment. Thereafter, she sealed victory with a crisp backhand winner, drawing loud cheers.
Writing “back home” on the camera lens, she embraced the moment warmly. Her next opponent will be either Sorana Cirstea or Maddison Inglis.
Meanwhile, Katie Boulter produced a gritty comeback win over Leylah Fernandez in three sets. “I am really pleased with the way I came back today,” she said.
“I had to respond,” Boulter added, as she reflected on her resilience after a slow start. The match stretched across two days due to persistent rain.
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Both players will reunite later for doubles, continuing their popular “Boultercanu” partnership. Elsewhere, Harriet Dart also battled back impressively to progress.
With several British players advancing, Queen’s has already delivered excitement and renewed optimism. For Raducanu, though, this win feels like a turning point.
