Emma Raducanu delivered a dominant performance in her first WTA singles match at Queen’s Club, defeating Spain’s Cristina Bucșa 6-1, 6-2 in just over an hour.
The British tennis star described the match as “very clean and clinical.” Despite Bucșa’s reputation as a tough competitor, Raducanu was in control from the start, racing to victory. “I was quite locked in today, so I’m very pleased with my performance,” Raducanu said after the match, adding that maintaining a positive attitude on court was part of her strategy to perform better.
“Going on court laughing at certain shots, or smiling after a great shot, helps relax you,” she explained. “I play my best when I can express my personality and feel free on the court. When I’m constrained in my playing style, it hasn’t worked as well. I need to be expressive for creativity to emerge.”
Raducanu will face her next challenge on Thursday against world No. 41 Rebecca Sramkova in the last 16. Despite only having “pretty low expectations” for herself just two days ago, Raducanu’s performance showed significant improvement. Her first serve was crisp, and her movement was sharp, with few signs of the back spasm that had interrupted her training.
“It was one of those days where you feel really good on the court,” Raducanu said. “Sometimes you don’t always feel that way, but when you do, you need to capitalize on it.” She did exactly that, breaking Bucșa’s serve to lead 3-1 in the first set, before wrapping it up in 25 minutes. Although Bucșa put up more resistance in the second set, Raducanu sealed the match with a sharp cross-court backhand.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous before the match,” Raducanu admitted. “The way I overcame that was a great achievement. I moved really well, especially considering I haven’t had much time on grass.” Her focus on starting points well, with strong serving and returning, helped her avoid giving away free points.
Earlier in the year, Raducanu suffered a shock defeat to Bucșa in the first round of the Singapore Open, but she was determined to make amends. “When I saw her name in the draw, I knew it was going to be tough, which really focused me,” Raducanu said. “Her defense and slices can stay low on this surface, but I was sharp today. I wanted to get every point, especially after losing to her earlier this year.”
In other action, British player Katie Boulter fought hard to defeat Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4, reaching the last 16. The match, which saw 13 breaks of serve, was a test of resilience for Boulter. “It was a really tough battle,” Boulter said. “She’s a tough competitor on grass, but sometimes the biggest wins are the ones that give you the most confidence.”
Heather Watson also advanced to the last 16 with an impressive 6-4, 6-3 win against Yulia Putintseva, making her the fourth British player to reach that stage. Watson, who will face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina on Thursday, expressed her enjoyment of the event. “It’s such a great event so far,” Watson said. “I’m really enjoying playing here and staying at home, sleeping in my own bed.”
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