Emma Raducanu Beats Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2 to Reach Queen’s Club Final

Emma Raducanu reached the Queen’s Club final after beating Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2 in her weather-delayed semifinal at the HSBC Championships, following a 6-3 7-5 quarterfinal win over Kamilla Rakhimova.

“- Published Britain's Emma Raducanu produced two superb victories in a day at Queen's to reach her first grass-court final”

BBC

The BBC said Raducanu returned to Andy Murray Arena a little over two and a half hours later and “dispatch[ed] highly-rated American teenager Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2.”

BBC

Sports Illustrated described Raducanu’s semifinal as an upset in straight sets, with the match lasting just over 90 minutes and Raducanu writing on the television camera, “Made it to Sunday Funday! (Heart) Thank you.”

BBC coverage also placed the final against Donna Vekic, who beat Katie Boulter in straight sets, and said Raducanu has not dropped a set on her run to the final.

Raducanu’s day included an injury scare after she slipped on the grass in her quarterfinal, with the BBC saying she had her left thigh strapped after slipping while changing direction in the fifth game of the second set.

BBC TV quoted Raducanu saying, “It means everything to be doing this here at Queen's,” as the crowd rose to applaud her after she sealed victory.

Sports Illustrated

The Guardian framed her performance as blasting away fitness doubts, saying she returned to Andy Murray Arena for her second match in five hours with lingering doubts after slipping on the slick grass earlier in the day and hurting her left thigh.

The Guardian also quoted Raducanu on the emotional impact of playing at home in London, saying, “I love London. It’s my home. It’s where I grew up. It’s everything to me.”

With Wimbledon starting on 29 June, the BBC said Raducanu’s success this week has boosted her chances of being one of the 32 seeds, after she was currently ranked 42 in the world following a disappointing first-round defeat at the French Open.

“Emma Raducanu has booked her place in the Queen’s final after winning back-to-back matches on Saturday”

Tennis365

BBC coverage also said Raducanu rehired Andrew Richardson, the man who helped her claim her historic US Open title in 2021, as her coach in May.

Sports Illustrated added that Raducanu will face Vekic for the first time on Sunday in the final, and said the championship match starts at 8:30 a.m. ET on Sunday with fans able to watch or stream it on the Tennis Channel.

The BBC described the final as the next step for Raducanu, saying in Sunday’s final she will face Croatia’s Donna Vekic, while also noting that Vekic beat British number three Katie Boulter in straight sets.