Emma Raducanu began her 2026 grass-court campaign with a commanding victory at the Queen’s Club HSBC Championships on Tuesday, defeating Russian qualifier Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-3 in just one hour on the Andy Murray Arena.
The 23-year-old Brit, coming off a challenging period marked by a first-round exit at the French Open and struggles with a post-viral illness, showed renewed vigor and precision throughout the match. Prior to this tournament, Raducanu also faced an early exit at the Strasbourg Open, raising questions about her form on the lead-up to the grass season.
Raducanu’s Resurgence at Queen’s Club
With former coach Andrew Richardson back in her corner, Raducanu demonstrated aggressive, front-foot tennis from the outset, sweeping through the opening set without conceding a single game. Despite a brief rain delay during the match, her momentum remained uninterrupted as she dominated Blinkova’s game.
While the second set brought stronger wind conditions that aided Blinkova in mounting a challenge—breaking Raducanu’s serve twice amid some double faults from the Brit—Raducanu maintained composure when it counted most. She secured a crucial late break to lead 5-3 and ultimately converted her second match point to seal the victory.
This win marks a positive step in Raducanu’s grass-court season, as she advances to the quarterfinals at Queen’s Club, aiming to build on this form after recent setbacks on the clay courts.