Raducanu Overpowered by Zheng in Queen’s Quarter-finals
Emma Raducanu of Britain was outperformed by world number five Zheng Qinwen in the quarter-finals at Queen’s. Despite showcasing some of her talent, Raducanu ultimately succumbed to the Olympic champion with a score of 6-2, 6-4 before an enthusiastic crowd.
The 22-year-old took a medical timeout following the first set, having experienced persistent back spasms for several months. Although she started strong in the second set, taking an early lead with a double break, Raducanu couldn’t manage to fend off the powerful Zheng.
Raducanu mentioned to BBC Sport, “I’ve played five matches in a pretty short amount of time,” adding, “I probably need to let my back rest and see how it goes. I’m not overly concerned that it’s something serious, but it is bothersome and needs careful management.”
This match tested Raducanu physically against Zheng, but it highlighted the distance between the British number one and the elite players globally. Zheng will proceed to face Amanda Anisimova in the semi-finals, after she defeated third seed Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-3.
Meanwhile, qualifier Tatjana Maria pulled off a stunning upset against former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina, winning 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) to set up a meeting with Australian Open champion Madison Keys, who overcame Diana Shnaider with scores of 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Raducanu Acknowledges Need for Improvement
Raducanu had reasons to feel optimistic against Zheng, who is still acclimating to grass courts and may falter under pressure. The 37th-ranked Raducanu had made smooth progress in her earlier matches, dropping just eight games across four sets. However, she noted the need for a higher and more consistent level of play to defeat top players.
The match began with an intense atmosphere as Raducanu applied pressure on Zheng’s serve while saving break points of her own. Zheng eventually broke through after multiple attempts, silencing the crowd with a powerful backhand, despite fan protests over her shoe change mid-game.
