ENGLAND vs Croatia has come early – with Emma Raducanu set to take on Donna Vekic to become queen of Queen’s.
Three days before the Three Lions take on and Co in Texas, will look to beat Croatian Vekic to win her first title since shocking the world at the US Open in 2021.
Emma Raducanu made it a super Saturday at Queen’s Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Raducanu, 23, was in brilliant form at the Queen’s Club Credit: PA
Raducanu, 23, was forced to do it the hard way – winning TWICE in one day to book her place in Sunday’s final.
The British No1 defeated Kamilla Rakhimova in the quarter-finals before stunning world No19 Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2 in front of a raucous crowd.
Sometimes harshly derided for her lack of durability, marathon woman Raducanu overcame two opponents, an injury scare and even the Red Arrows to make it to her third career final.
Jovic, 18, is a rising star of the sport and earned her semi-final place by toppling last year’s finalist in three thrilling sets on Friday.
The teenager was no match for Raducanu, however, lasting just 89 minutes in the beating West London sunshine.
Raducanu had played earlier in the day but it was her American opponent that showed physical vulnerability, requiring a medical timeout early on to have her ankle taped.
Having been blown away during the first set, Jovic’s challenge looked all but over as Raducanu went an early break up in the second.
But the teenager wasn’t going away without a fight, breaking straight back and earning 0-30 opportunities in Raducanu’s next two service games.
Boulter bows out
By Etienne Fermie at Queen's
KATIE BOULTER failed to back up the biggest win of her career as she was routed 6-1 6-3 by Donna Vekic in the Queen’s semi-finals.
The British No2 reached the last four in West London by beating former Wimbledon champion and reigning Australian Open queen Elena Rybakina on Friday night.
Boulter was back in action on Andy Murray Arena barely 20 hours later and never got going against her Croatian opponent.
The 29-year-old came out flat and was immediately broken by Vekic in front of a sparsely populated crowd, many of whom had popped out for a Pimm’s break following Emma Raducanu’s win over Kamilla Rakhimova.
Vekic only made it into the tournament as a lucky loser following Belinda Bencic’s withdrawal, having lost to Anna Blinkova in qualifying last Sunday.
But she is dangerous on this surface when confident, having memorably reached the Wimbledon semi-finals two years ago.
The world No76 served immaculately and didn’t face a single break point throughout this encounter, while dominating with her booming forehand from the back of the court.
Vekic wrote “I love London” on the camera after her win and can even be claimed as an honorary Brit.
The Queen’s finalist explained: “I spent a lot of time here training when I was younger so I have a lot of friends here.
“It feels like a second home to me.”
Unfortunately for Jovic she could not reliably earn points on her own delivery, Raducanu breaking her opponent for a fourth time out of her last five service games to win the match.
Quizzed if bringing former coach Andrew Richardson back into the fold has led to the “old” Raducanu returning, the Queen’s finalist said: “It’s great to have him back. We’ve been working on this game style.
“The whole week I’ve been playing really good and the brand of tennis that I really want to play.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the old Emma, I think it’s the new Emma because you take all the lessons and experiences, all the different ups and downs, everything. You understand a lot more what’s going on and what works for you. It’s the new Emma, I’m back and better.”
Earlier in the day, Raducanu was forced to come through a dramatic quarter-final – beating Rakhimova 6-3 7-5 in just shy of two hours.
The British No1 saw her progress , planes soaring low over the Queen’s Club following their jaunt over Buckingham Palace.
Raducanu required a medical timeout during the match Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The Red Arrows flew past the Queen’s Club Credit: Getty
Having cruised into a 6-3 3-1 lead, Raducanu slipped while trying to change direction behind the baseline.
A similar fall by on Wednesday led to the Canadian teenager , and the crowd gasped as Raducanu crumpled to the turf.
The world No42 took a medical timeout off court and returned with thick strapping on her left thigh.
Rakhimova instantly broke Raducanu back before holding to claim a 4-3 lead in the second set.
The hometown hero regrouped by ditching the strapping – instantly moving with more freedom and appearing to think with more clarity, admitting that “adrenaline” got her through after converting her third match point of a dramatic second set.
Dan Evans out in qualifying
By Etienne Fermie at Queen's
DAN EVANS’ final Queen’s appearance ended in round one of qualifying after he was beaten 7-5 2-6 6-1 by Marcos Giron.
The former British No1, 36, announced this week that he plans to retire at Wimbledon this summer.
Despite his extensive services to GB tennis, which include winning the Davis Cup in 2015 and partnering Andy Murray at the 2024 Olympics, Evans was not awarded a main draw wildcard at Queen’s, much to his frustration.
Evans played some good tennis against American Giron, executing plenty of his trademark sliced backhands and treating the Court 1 crowd to some good tennis, albeit ultimately coming up short.
On his performance, Evans said: “It was good, I enjoyed it. I’ve been practising so it was difficult in the end, he played well in the third set but I enjoyed it.”
The now-world No217 admitted that his body was his primary reason for hanging up his racquet.
Evans added: “I haven’t played a bunch of tennis but that’s for reasons out of my control. I’ve been injured and that’s the reason I’m retiring. My body hasn’t been great and I no longer want to put myself through the training.”
Asked by SunSport about how he envisages his last few weeks on tour, Evans said: “Nothing really changes, I just compete hard and leave it on the court, see where I get to.
“Marcos is a good player, a great competitor and I played well today. I’m a little rusty in matches but I’m not really worried about that result today.
“I played some good tennis and another match in the bank will leave me in good stead for, at the minute, Wimbledon qualifying.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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