Raducanu Falls to Zheng in Queen’s Clash

In a hard-fought match, **Emma Raducanu** stumbled against **Zheng Qinwen** at the Queen’s Club, underscoring the ongoing challenges of competing with the world’s best tennis players. Despite a determined effort, **Raducanu** couldn’t overcome **Zheng’s** powerful game.

The Decisive Moments

Facing pressure to hold her serve against a formidable opponent, **Raducanu** double-faulted at a crucial break point. This ultimately led to her defeat. The tension reflected the high stakes imposed by top players, a difficulty for **Raducanu**.

After battling through a positive week, **Raducanu’s** run ended against **Zheng**, the world No. 5 and top seed. **Zheng** secured the win with a score of 6-2, 6-4, advancing to her first grass-court semi-final.

Over the past year, **Zheng** has proven herself a top contender. She won the Olympic gold medal in Paris. However, she has not had much experience playing on grass. Her inexperience on the surface is offset by her powerful weapons.

“I think returning is one of my big strengths, and I think Qinwen served really well,”

—Emma Raducanu

Raducanu’s Struggles

**Raducanu’s** back issues resurfaced. She took a medical timeout during the match. She had experienced back spasms in previous weeks, and managing them has proven challenging.

As **Raducanu** returned to play, **Zheng** regained control. **Zheng’s** serve percentage decreased, but she seized the baseline again. At 4-3, **Raducanu** double-faulted again, allowing **Zheng** to win the match.

While **Raducanu** had victories against players outside the top 30, she is still trying to adapt. Since 2023, only 10 British women have reached the world’s top 100 (LTA, 2024).

The Players’ History

**Zheng** and **Raducanu**, who are just a month apart in age, have known each other since they were children. They first met at the Orange Bowl under-12s, and they sometimes speak to each other in Chinese. Although **Raducanu** rose to fame at 18, **Zheng’s** rise has been more consistent.

With her back condition still uncertain, **Raducanu** prepares for the WTA 500 event in Berlin. There, she hopes to gain more experience playing against top players.