Emma Raducanu rolled back the years on the green lawns of west London on Monday, dispatching Cristina Bucsa 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Queen’s Club Championships to register her first tour-level grass-court win in nearly two years. The 23-year-old Briton, ranked 38th in the world, needed just 78 minutes to see off the world No. 49 from Spain, breaking serve four times and landing 78 per cent of her first serves in a performance that bodes well for her Wimbledon campaign later this month.
For Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion who has spent much of the past three seasons managing the after-effects of wrist and ankle surgeries, the result was about more than ranking points. A capacity Andy Murray Arena crowd — Queen’s hosting a WTA event for the first time since 1973 — rose to its feet as the Bromley-born player closed out the match with a forehand winner down the line. Compatriot Katie Boulter, the British No. 1, followed her on court and recovered from a set down to defeat American Ann Li 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, completing a productive day for the home contingent.
A statement of intent on home soil
Raducanu’s serve, long the most temperamental shot in her arsenal, held the key. She struck five aces, conceded just one break point in the opening set and faced only two across the entire match. The forehand, rebuilt over the winter under new coach Mark Petchey, looked heavier and more secure than at any point this clay-court swing, where she failed to advance beyond the third round in Madrid and Rome.
Bucsa, a tidy counter-puncher who had beaten Raducanu in three sets at the Miami Open in March, was given no opportunity to dictate. Raducanu’s average rally length sat at just 3.4 shots, a figure that reflected her commitment to stepping inside the baseline and ending points early. “I felt the support from the first ball,” Raducanu said courtside. “Grass rewards aggression, and I wanted to make sure I was the one pulling the trigger.”
It was her first main-draw win at Queen’s, an event that has admitted women for only the second time in over five decades. Her previous outing on the surface, last June at Eastbourne, ended with a third-round retirement against Jessica Pegula. Monday’s display offered the most tangible evidence yet that the physical issues which have repeatedly halted her progress are receding.
Boulter digs deep to keep British momentum alive
Boulter, seeded fifth, looked some way short of her best in the opening exchanges against Li, a 25-year-old left-hander who had reached the semi-finals at Eastbourne 12 months ago. Trailing 4-6 and 1-2, the Leicester native called for the trainer to address a tightening lower back before producing the kind of front-foot tennis that has propelled her to two grass-court titles in the past two seasons.
The British No. 1 won eight of the last 10 games, finishing with 31 winners against 22 unforced errors. She faces Diana Shnaider, the Russian world No. 12, in the second round on Wednesday — a rematch of the Nottingham final Boulter won 12 months ago. “These are the matches I want,” Boulter said. “Top-15 opposition, on grass, in front of a British crowd. There’s no better preparation.”
Britain’s other representative on Monday, qualifier Sonay Kartal, suffered a 6-2, 7-6 (4) defeat to the eighth seed Daria Kasatkina.
What it means for Wimbledon
With the Championships beginning on 30 June, Raducanu’s performance arrives at a critical juncture. She is projected to be seeded between 28 and 32 at SW19, meaning a deep run at Queen’s — she next faces Rebecca Sramkova, the world No. 41 — could lift her into a more favourable section of the draw. A semi-final appearance would push her inside the top 30 for the first time since November 2022.
The wider significance is harder to quantify but easier to feel. British women’s tennis has not produced a Wimbledon quarter-finalist since Johanna Konta in 2019. With Boulter, Raducanu and the rising 19-year-old Mimi Xu all carrying form into the grass swing, that drought looks more vulnerable by the week.
- Raducanu’s next opponent: Rebecca Sramkova (SVK), world No. 41
- Boulter’s next opponent: Diana Shnaider (RUS), world No. 12
- Queen’s WTA prize money: $1,064,510 (event returns after 52-year absence)
- Wimbledon 2026 main draw begins: Monday, 30 June
Sports journalist and editor at SportsPortal.net. Covers cricket, football, Formula 1, tennis, and basketball with a focus on how global sports connect with Pakistani audiences. Follows the PSL, Pakistan national cricket team, Premier League, and major international tournaments. Has reported on sports for digital audiences since 2021.
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