Emma Raducanu denied first ever grass title as Donna Vekic claims Queen's Club crown

Emma Raducanu missed out on a maiden grass-court title after she was defeated in the final at Queen’s Club by Donna Vekić. The British No.1 had won twice on Saturday to reach Sunday’s showpiece on the Andy Murray Arena, overcoming an injury scare in her quarter-final victory over Kamilla Rakhimova, having to leave the court after a slip. She returned with strapping on her left thigh and pushed through the pain to close out that match and move into the last four, where she faced Vekić’s steady serving. Vekić, world No.76, claimed her fifth career title and first since 2017 Nottingham, sealing the result in straight sets.

Raducanu’s bid to win a first grass title was undone in the second set as she saved three championship points at 6-5 before watching Vekić clinch the tiebreak 7-6(6). The British exit London within sight of Wimbledon and with her ranking likely hovering outside the top 30, complicating seedings. By contrast, Vekić’s victory reinforces her affinity for grass and gives her momentum heading into Wimbledon. Raducanu is slated to play the Nottingham Open next week as a wildcard, with Wimbledon still on the horizon two weeks away.