Emma Raducanu is managing back issues after bowing out of Queen's
Newly reinstated British no.1 Emma Raducanu saw her Queen's run come to an end in a straight sets defeat to Qinwen Zheng.
The 22-year-old produced a brilliant start to her second set as the Olympic champion and top seed from China ran into several issues, but was unable to make it count and missed out on a spot in the LTA's HSBC Championship semi-finals with a 6-2 6-4 loss.
Raducanu had faced several back issues coming into the WTA 500 event and was forced to call the physio after her first set in the quarterfinal but noted that she was not overly concerned by the returned flare up.
"I have been managing it pretty well over the last few weeks, but I guess as the week goes on it just tests it out and I just felt it," she said.
"They took me off court and taped it to give me some extra stability, and some painkillers.
"I have had back issues before. I think it's just a vulnerability of mine and I know I need to take good care of it.
'I'm in awe of her, to feel that love for the game is really precious' 🥹❤️
When Joanie met, played with and inspired her hero @EmmaRaducanu pic.twitter.com/7iUpiV4FLl — LTA (@the_LTA) June 13, 2025
"I'm not overly concerned that it's something serious, but I know it's something that's very annoying and needs proper and careful management."
Zheng was the commander of play during the opening set but Raducanu continued to push her opponent in each of her service games, as both players threatened to break throughout.
The top left corner seemed to be Zheng's weak spot and Raducanu learnt that early on, consistently winning points in that area whilst employing her backhand slice to come from three break points down and win her service game.
Zheng fell into a bit of an issue with her shoes, having not played on grass much before and needing to manage a change of shoe half way through the first set.
The break in play looked like it had all turned out well for Raducanu who managed to bounce back to level the game, but it eventually turned into the break Zheng needed.
With the Brit's return slipping, Zheng took flight and found her rhythm to break once more and take the set.
"Returning is one of my big strengths, and I think Qinwen served really well," she said. "I didn't see many second serves and she hit her spots really well in some big moments.
"Credit to her. She kind of took away one of my bigger strengths.
"I think I have a lot of work to do, to be honest."
Raducanu came out in the second set and immediately broke Zheng, courtesy of some well placed shots down the tramline.
With several racket issues seeping into Zheng's play and as Raducanu went two breaks up in the second set, the world no.5 began to panic on the other side of the court and was evidently struggling to find the same accuracy and power she had in her first set.
But the zing of Zheng's serve returned as quickly as it had left, and the bleak patch soon subsided as the Olympic champion began to turn around her second set and level the game.
The Brit had one last chance to save her semi-final hopes, serving to halt Zheng's chance at going through, but double faults and nerves once again seeped through and although the British no.1 was able to come from three match points down, ultimately bowed out of Queen's.
For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
23 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Robert MacIntyre has ‘100 per cent' belief he can win the US Open
MacIntyre described his opening round level-par 70 as one of the best of his life, but he bettered it just 48 hours later. The Scot, from Oban, put in a controlled performance to card a 69, to sit on three over, six shots behind leaders Sam Burns and JJ Spaun when they were midway through their third round. It might have been even better for MacIntyre as he had got down to one over after 12 holes but a spate of bogeys in the final six holes saw him drift back out. But he still believes he is in contention win a first major. Asked if he can win, he replied: 'One hundred per cent. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that, it's a simple answer, yes. 'I'm just delighted to be in it, going into tomorrow if I can shoot the number I know I can shoot then why can't it be me? 'I have been playing really well this year, another round to go, I have put three solid rounds together so far. 'Tomorrow I have got to go out there, give it my best, don't try and focus too much on trying to win, just go out there, hit the shots, then come 15, 16, see where are sitting and decide whether to roll the dice or not.' Heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning had made the brutal Oakmont course slightly more playable but it still presented its challenges. 'It was still difficult,' MacIntyre added. 'It is a little bit softer so when you're on the fairway it gives you more of an opportunity, but I think the rough is even thicker with the water. 'I felt there was a low number with the way I was playing, I was playing beautifully out there. 'The key to this golf course is just be on the fairway. It is the priority and then you can go from there.' Tyrrell Hatton was also presenting British interest as a spate of birdies propelled him up the leaderboard. The 33-year-old Englishman, who started on three over, went one under at the 10th, 11th and 12th to move up level par midway through the third round. It is as you were for world number one Scottie Scheffler, who carded an even-par 70. Scheffler maintained he was still in contention after Friday's second round but failed to make any ground on the leaders, his three birdies cancelled out by three bogeys.
The Herald Scotland
32 minutes ago
- The Herald Scotland
Robert MacIntyre has ‘100 per cent' belief he can win the US Open
The Scot, from Oban, put in a controlled performance to card a 69, to sit on three over, six shots behind leaders Sam Burns and JJ Spaun when they were midway through their third round. It might have been even better for MacIntyre as he had got down to one over after 12 holes but a spate of bogeys in the final six holes saw him drift back out. But he still believes he is in contention win a first major. Asked if he can win, he replied: 'One hundred per cent. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that, it's a simple answer, yes. 'I'm just delighted to be in it, going into tomorrow if I can shoot the number I know I can shoot then why can't it be me? 'I have been playing really well this year, another round to go, I have put three solid rounds together so far. 'Tomorrow I have got to go out there, give it my best, don't try and focus too much on trying to win, just go out there, hit the shots, then come 15, 16, see where are sitting and decide whether to roll the dice or not.' Heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning had made the brutal Oakmont course slightly more playable but it still presented its challenges. 'It was still difficult,' MacIntyre added. 'It is a little bit softer so when you're on the fairway it gives you more of an opportunity, but I think the rough is even thicker with the water. 'I felt there was a low number with the way I was playing, I was playing beautifully out there. 'The key to this golf course is just be on the fairway. It is the priority and then you can go from there.' Tyrrell Hatton was also presenting British interest as a spate of birdies propelled him up the leaderboard. The 33-year-old Englishman, who started on three over, went one under at the 10th, 11th and 12th to move up level par midway through the third round. It is as you were for world number one Scottie Scheffler, who carded an even-par 70. Scheffler maintained he was still in contention after Friday's second round but failed to make any ground on the leaders, his three birdies cancelled out by three bogeys.
North Wales Chronicle
37 minutes ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Robert MacIntyre has ‘100 per cent' belief he can win the US Open
MacIntyre described his opening round level-par 70 as one of the best of his life, but he bettered it just 48 hours later. The Scot, from Oban, put in a controlled performance to card a 69, to sit on three over, six shots behind leaders Sam Burns and JJ Spaun when they were midway through their third round. It might have been even better for MacIntyre as he had got down to one over after 12 holes but a spate of bogeys in the final six holes saw him drift back out. But he still believes he is in contention win a first major. Asked if he can win, he replied: 'One hundred per cent. I wouldn't be here if I didn't believe that, it's a simple answer, yes. 'I'm just delighted to be in it, going into tomorrow if I can shoot the number I know I can shoot then why can't it be me? 'I have been playing really well this year, another round to go, I have put three solid rounds together so far. 'Tomorrow I have got to go out there, give it my best, don't try and focus too much on trying to win, just go out there, hit the shots, then come 15, 16, see where are sitting and decide whether to roll the dice or not.' Heavy rain overnight and throughout the morning had made the brutal Oakmont course slightly more playable but it still presented its challenges. 'It was still difficult,' MacIntyre added. 'It is a little bit softer so when you're on the fairway it gives you more of an opportunity, but I think the rough is even thicker with the water. 'I felt there was a low number with the way I was playing, I was playing beautifully out there. 'The key to this golf course is just be on the fairway. It is the priority and then you can go from there.' Tyrrell Hatton was also presenting British interest as a spate of birdies propelled him up the leaderboard. The 33-year-old Englishman, who started on three over, went one under at the 10th, 11th and 12th to move up level par midway through the third round. It is as you were for world number one Scottie Scheffler, who carded an even-par 70. Scheffler maintained he was still in contention after Friday's second round but failed to make any ground on the leaders, his three birdies cancelled out by three bogeys.
