The British number one’s impressive run came to an end in the final when she was beaten by Croatia’s Donna Vekic, who held her nerve to claim victory after a fiercely contested encounter. While the defeat denied Raducanu a first WTA Tour title and her first piece of silverware since her stunning US Open triumph in 2021, the week provided strong evidence that the former Grand Slam champion is moving in the right direction.
For much of the tournament, Raducanu displayed confidence, freedom, and consistency, reaching the final without dropping a set and reminding fans why she remains one of the most exciting talents in women’s tennis.
The pain of defeat was evident after the match, with the 22-year-old admitting the loss would take time to process.
“Right now it obviously really stings, so I'm just going to try and let myself feel it today - but try and get over it pretty quick,” Raducanu said.
Grass-Court Comfort Brings Out Her Best
Only a few weeks ago, Raducanu’s outlook appeared less promising following an early exit at the French Open. Questions surrounded her form after a difficult period that included illness and limited match action.
However, her decision to continue competing during the clay-court season rather than skip it altogether appears to have paid off. The extra time on court helped rebuild fitness and rhythm ahead of the grass-court campaign.
At Queen’s, Raducanu looked comfortable from the opening round. Her movement was sharp, her shot-making aggressive, and her confidence noticeably higher than it had been in recent months.
Grass has long been considered a surface well-suited to her game. The quicker conditions reward her clean ball-striking, while the lower bounce allows her serve and groundstrokes to penetrate more effectively.
Reflecting on her performances throughout the week, she said:
“I think I'm playing pretty freely, pretty aggressively, but finding the right balance.
“I've been returning well, serving pretty well. It's important on grass.”
Richardson Reunion Producing Results
Another major factor behind Raducanu’s resurgence has been the return of coach Andrew Richardson, the man who guided her to one of the most remarkable Grand Slam victories in history at the 2021 US Open.
Since reconnecting with Richardson, Raducanu has enjoyed a noticeable improvement in both her performances and mindset. The coach’s straightforward approach, emphasis on repetition, and understanding of her game appear to have restored confidence and clarity.
Their partnership has already yielded impressive results, with Raducanu winning the majority of her matches under his guidance.
Speaking about the renewed collaboration, she expressed optimism about the direction her game is taking.
“It's great to have him back. I think we have been working on this game style. The whole week I have been playing really, really good tennis and the brand of tennis that I really want to play,” she said.
Rejecting suggestions that she is simply rediscovering her old form, Raducanu believes she is evolving into a more complete player.
“I wouldn't say it's necessarily the old Emma. I think it's the new Emma.
“You take all the lessons and experience, all the different ups and downs, and you take everything. You understand a lot more what's going on and what works for you.”
Mental Strength on Display
One of the most encouraging aspects of Raducanu’s week was her resilience.
Throughout her career, critics have occasionally questioned her ability to battle through difficult moments. Yet at Queen’s, she repeatedly showed determination and composure under pressure.
The final itself provided another example. After falling behind against Vekic, Raducanu fought back strongly to make the contest competitive before eventually running out of steam.
Despite the defeat, she was proud of the way she responded.
“I managed to get myself back into the second set and I'm proud of how I fought,” she said.
“That's not something that in the past years I have always done, so that's a positive.”
Her route to the final was far from straightforward, requiring victories over quality opponents and overcoming physical concerns during a demanding schedule.
Wimbledon Now the Main Target
While reaching the Queen’s final represents a significant step forward, Raducanu knows the real challenge lies ahead.
The next objective is maintaining this level over a sustained period and translating her encouraging form into success at the biggest tournaments.
Since her remarkable US Open victory as a teenage qualifier, Raducanu has only once progressed beyond the opening week of a Grand Slam. With Wimbledon just around the corner, she now has an opportunity to build on the momentum generated at Queen’s and make another deep run in front of home supporters.
The confidence gained from five matches on grass, combined with improved fitness and a settled coaching team, offers plenty of reasons for optimism.
“Going into Wimbledon you want as many matches on grass as possible. This week was great. I played five matches on grass,” Raducanu said.
“It has to be a positive. You take things that work, take things that didn't work, and apply it to when I play next.”
Although the Queen’s title eluded her, Raducanu’s performances suggested she is rediscovering the consistency, confidence, and competitive edge needed to challenge at the highest level once again. With Wimbledon approaching fast, the signs are increasingly encouraging for Britain's leading female player.