Emma Raducanu began her Wimbledon preparations with a promising straight-set victory over Anna Blinkova in a rain-disrupted match at Queen’s.
British number one Raducanu was dominant for most of the contest, winning the first eight games without reply before going on to complete a 6-0 6-3 victory over the Russian qualifier. It was the 23-year-old’s first win since 6 March, when she beat qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in the Indian Wells first round. Raducanu’s season has since been disrupted by a post-viral illness that kept her off the WTA Tour for more than two months, and she lost her only two matches on clay on her return – in Strasbourg and at the French Open. But Raducanu appeared comfortable as she opened her grass-court season in London – and delighted to be competing in front of her home support.
“I’m so happy to have come through that match. To be back here playing at Queen’s… I haven’t actually won a match for a few months and there isn’t a place I would rather have done it. I’m really grateful for all the support,” Raducanu told the crowd. “I have people who mean a lot around me. I’m doing the best I can each day. Being part of the atmosphere is something that I really enjoy – I don’t see it as added pressure, I really thrive off it. I’m just happy to be back.”
Raducanu had looked far from her best in her past two matches following illness but, 16 days after her first-round exit at Roland Garros, the Briton made afresh on Andy Murray Arena. The 2021 US Open champion held a commanding 3-0 lead before rain halted play – but that would not disrupt her rhythm. She captured the first set without reply after just 20 minutes on court, winning 25 of the 31 points played – hitting 11 winners and just two unforced errors. Raducanu maintained that excellent level to begin the second set with a break of serve – although she would not have it entirely her own way. A Queen’s quarter-finalist last year, Raducanu was hampered by double-faults as she allowed Blinkova back in – with four successive breaks of serve tying the set at three games apiece. However, Raducanu broke again, courtesy of a fortuitous net cord, to set up the chance to serve out the match, and she wore a beaming smile in the sunshine as a closing backhand winner down the line on her second match point was met by huge cheers.
Writing ‘back home’ with a heart on a TV camera lens before exiting the court, Raducanu will return to face either Romanian Sorana Cirstea or Australia’s Maddison Inglis in the second round. Raduacanu is one of five British players to feature in the main draw this week, along with Katie Boulter, Francesca Jones, Mika Stojsavljevic and Harriet Dart. Dart fought back from a set down to beat Liudmila Samsonova 5-7 6-4 6-3 in one of only three matches completed on Monday as the rain wreaked havoc with the schedule. Due to the delays, Boulter’s match against eighth seed Leylah Fernandez did not start until 19:30 BST and play was suspended not long after as the court became slippery, with the Canadian leading 6-3 3-3 before the match resumed on Tuesday.