After a series of misfires and false starts, Emma Raducanu’s 2026 season was in need of an urgent rebrand, and she made a promising step in the right direction at Queen’s Club.
Facing Anna Blinkova, the world No 105, the Briton romped through the first set in just 23 minutes, in a blur of winners and punishing service returns.
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Although she slowed down a little, she was still back in the grand Victorian clubhouse after just over an hour, having recorded a comfortable 6-0, 6-3 victory. Remarkably, it was her first win in 95 days.
Blinkova may not have been the highest calibre of opponent. But the Croatian had just beaten Donna Vekić – a Wimbledon semi-finalist in 2024 – in the final round of qualifying, so came in with some form behind her.
Raducanu, by contrast, has barely played at all. She failed to win a set in either of her outings on clay, and to find the last time she actually beat anyone, you have to go back all the way to a similarly promising 6-1, 6-3 victory over Anastasia Zakharova at Indian Wells – a tournament where Mark Petchey, the TV broadcaster, was functioning as her locum coach.
The example of Indian Wells should serve as a reminder to her fans, in case they are in danger of getting too giddy. Raducanu looked good against Zakharova too, only to be taken apart by Amanda Anisimova in the next round, and then disappear from competitive tennis for 72 days.
The win was Raducanu’s first in 95 days – Toby Melville/PA
Here, she will face Sorana Cîrstea, an in-form Romanian player who stands at No 10 in the rankings for this season alone, in the second round. These two met in the final of the Transylvania Open in early February, at around the time when Raducanu picked up the virus that has since dogged her whole season, and Cîrstea handed out a 6-0, 6-2 thrashing.
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If there are reasons to hope for a better outcome this time, they mainly relate to the surface. Raducanu wrote “Back home” on the camera lens after this win, and she clearly feels at one with the grass of Queen’s.
“Despite not having played a lot of matches, I was really pleased with how I came out and was playing very free,” she said afterwards. “I think I was just feeding off of the atmosphere, and it felt free, it felt clear, and a lot of clarity. Not necessarily thinking too much, not trying to do too much.
“I love playing on grass. And playing at home, I think it also brings a really good side out of me.”
The quality of Raducanu’s performance can be seen in the way she broke serve in six out of seven return games, going after her shots in a manner that lived up to her comments in Australia in January.
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“I just want to hit the ball, like, to the corners and hard,” Raducanu said then, as she moved towards the end of her coaching collaboration with Francis Roig. “I feel like I’m doing all this variety, and it’s not, like, doing what I want it to do. I need to just work on playing in a way more similar to how I was playing when I was younger.”
To that end, she has reunited with Andrew Richardson – her coach when she won the US Open in 2021 – who sat at courtside for this match along with her hitting partner Alexis Canter. On closing out her win, she turned to them and held out her five fingers in a mysterious message.
While the meaning of this victory salute remains obscure, British fans will hope to see it plenty more times this summer.
After the win Raducanu held out a five-fingered saluted to her team – Toby Melville/Reuters
02:21pm
‘My favourite tournament’
Wimbledon would like a word, Emma!
02:20pm
Raducanu captures her eighth win of the season
02:14pm
Croft: Raducanu swamped her opponent
Of Raducanu’s first-round win, BBC pundit Annabel Croft said: “She couldn’t have played, in terms of middling the ball, [any better], crushing the ball out of the centre of the racket, the timing was so sweet.
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The serving look pretty good, OK she had that little wobble in the middle with three double faults but I thought the direction on her serve was excellent. And the returns of serve were just fantastic. She swamped her opponent.
“I think she will be tested more in the second round, but anyway, it doesn’t matter. She’s got that first win under her belt and it was a good one.”
02:05pm
Revenge on the cards?
With Raducanu safely through to the second round, she now awaits the result of seventh seed Sorana Cirstea’s match against Australian qualifier Maddison Inglis.
It was Cirstea who defeated Raducanu 6-0, 6-2 in the Cluj final earlier this season, so Raducanu may be presented with a shot at righting that particular wrong. She will have her work cut out should the Romanian prevail against Inglis; Cirstea is in fantastic form in what is her final season on tour.
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Raducanu pairs up with Katie Boulter in the doubles this evening. They will face Zhang Shaui and Storm Hunter on Court 1.
01:56pm
All smiles after winning start
01:55pm
Raducanu: I love playing at Queen’s – I’m happy to be back
Raducanu writes “back home” on the camera lens before starting her on-court interview.
Speaking to the BBC, she said: “I’m so happy to come through that match. To be back playing at Queen’s, you know I haven’t actually won a match for a few months and there’s no place I’d rather have done it, so I’m really grateful for the support.”
Asked how she has handled her up-and-down form, Raducanu said: “I have people who mean a lot around me, I’m doing the best I can each day. The atmosphere, being a part of the atmosphere is something I really enjoy. I don’t necessarily see it as added negative pressure, I really, really thrive and buzz off it. I love playing here and I’m just happy to be back.”
01:47pm
Game, set, match: *Raducanu 6-0 6-3 Blinkova
Raducanu sends Blinkova running before feeding the ball into the open court to go 15-0 up, but a drop-shot fails to clear the net on the next point. Two errors from the Blinkova racket set up two match points for Raducanu. She might have thought she had grabbed a timely ace down the tee but it is called out and she ends up spurning the first match point. Raducanu gets it done at the second time of asking, though, lasering a backhand down the line to seal the win with a clean winner. A fantastic victory in just an hour.
Raducanu and Blinkova shake hands after their first-round match at Queen’s – Luke Walker/Getty Images
01:42pm
Raducanu 6-0 5-3 Blinkova*
Having powered into a 0-30 lead, Blinkova gets on the scoreboard with a bizarre serve that appears to die in front of Raducanu. A loose inside-out forehad sails wide from Raducanu, but she atones on the next point, coming out on top of an extended backhand-to-backhand exchange. And she grabs a crucial break, profitting off a lucky clip off the top of the tape. Not that she’ll be complaing, mind you. She’s now serving for the match.
01:39pm
An opportune gift for Raducanu
Four missed forehand service returns in a row from Blinkova: a handy gift just when things were getting tense. Since the Raducanu serve usually slides into the forehand wing, this looks a good match-up for her.
01:38pm
*Raducanu 6-0 4-3 Blinkova
Raducanu had momentarily looked a bit frazzled, but bounces back, with a huge chunk of help from Blinkova, who misses three relatively straightforward returns in a row. Blinkova’s next return sails long and Raducanu grabs a serve to love of her own, having been broken in her last two service games.
01:35pm
Raducanu 6-0 3-3 Blinkova*
No fuss for Blinkova, who backs up her break with a hold to love.
01:34pm
British cordiality on show
Very British of the crowd to give Blinkova a warm hand for a forehand winner in that game; they seemed to feel sorry for her. In the US, there would have been crickets.
01:33pm
A scheduling change
Marta Kostyuk has withdrawn in the last minutes, meaning British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic will now face lucky loser Donna Vekic on a different court. Tatjana Maria vs Maria Sakkari will now be the third match on the Andy Murray Arena.
01:31pm
*Raducanu 6-0 3-2 Blinkova
After splitting the opening two points, Blinkova snatches the point of the match, mustering every ounce of power in her wrist to flick the ball up and over the net to bring up 15-30 after a swashbuckling rally. Raducanu double faults for the second time in the game, and adds a third to gift Blinkova another break.
01:26pm
Raducanu 6-0 3-1 Blinkova*
Raducanu takes a wild swing at Blinkova’s opening serve to no avail, but draws level at 15-15 as Blinkova fails to catch a pick-up cleanly. Raducanu locks in and pounces on the next return, finding a good angle to lace a winner beyond her opponent. And she reels off the next two points to get the break straight back.
01:22pm
*Raducanu 6-0 2-1 Blinkova
Back on serve, and Raducanu races into a 30-0 lead without any fuss. Raducanu then goes for broke, trying to clear the highest part of the net, but catches the tape to give Blinkova a look-in. A couple of loose points hand the Russian an unexpected break-point chance, which she takes thanks to some great hitting into the corners. She completes the break with a tidy volley.
Disappointment from the media contingent in the main stand who were workshopping some dodgy “Blinketty-blank” puns in the event of a double bagel here. That dropped game looked like the result of scoreboard-related complacency.
01:18pm
Raducanu 6-0 2-0 Blinkova*
You get the sense that Raducanu is enjoying herself out there this afternoon. She’s straight into a 15-30 lead before Blinkova starts pushing her back behind the baseline, a strategy which yields two successive points. But a glorious backhand winner gets Raducanu to deuce, and from there the Briton completes the break, first charging the net before forcing her opponent into an error.
01:12pm
*Raducanu 6-0 1-0 Blinkova
After trading points to open the second set, the players revert back to the same pattern as in the first set, with Raducanu reeling off the next three points. Raducanu goes to the drop-shot twice to seal the game.
01:11pm
Raducanu cooks up third bagel of season
Quite the flex from Raducanu there as she puts away the winning volley to complete her “bagel” set, while simultaneously moving towards her seat for the changeover. It’s the third bagel she has handed out this season, with the previous recipients being Greet Minnen and French Open finalist Maja Chwalinska.
01:07pm
Raducanu 6-0 Anna Blinkova*
Raducanu goes to the drop-shot but gets stuck at the front of the court and Blinkova passes her. The world No 105 is not making enough first serves to be competitive here, and Raducanu rips a pair of forehand winners beyond Blinkova. The Russian sends a backhand wide to set up two set points, and Raducanu gets it done first time around. A third break to cap off perfect first set from the Briton.
Raducanu is a set to the good – Alberto Pezzali/AP
01:03pm
*Raducanu 5-0 Blinkova
Raducanu races into a 30-0 lead before losing her first point on serve, a forehand not making it over the net. Blinkova then gets to 30-30, going deep to her opponent’s backhand. Raducanu responds well, though, crashing down an ace before letting out a celebratory yell. Another strong serve into the ad side leaves her an easy put-away which she dispatches with aplomb. 5-0.
12:59pm
Raducanu 4-0 Blinkova*
Blinkova gets us back under way, but Raducanu is seeing the ball like a football and laces a forehand return winner down the line. The pressure tells and the Russian, who feels she must be more aggressive, double faults. Another miscue, this time off the forehand wing, gives Raducanu looks at three break points. She only needs one, ripping a forehand past a stunned Blinkova. That’s a double-break.
12:55pm
Some early notes
Very encouraging start from Raducanu who has really only missed one shot so far: the backhand putaway on her first break point. One thing to look out for, though. She is struggling with the serve down the “T” on the deuce side at the moment, which Blinkova appears to have clocked, judging by her wide return position on that side.
12:52pm
The players reemerge from the clubhouse
In accordance with tour protocol, there will be another four-minute warm-up as the rain delay was longer than 15 minutes.
12:47pm
Dart gets first Queen’s win
There was a first HSBC Championships win for Briton Harriet Dart yesterday. The 29-year-old is 160 in the rankings, but came through against world No 35 Liudmila Samsonova 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. Dart has been playing mainly ITF events this season and will be buoyed by claiming a top-50 scalp. Next up, world No 11 Belinda Bencic.
Dart celebrates her win over Samsonova – Harriet Lander/Getty Images
12:37pm
The covers are coming off
While the court gets set up again, here’s a look at Raducanu’s down-the-line forehand winner that helped her break in game two:
12:31pm
That just about sums it up
For what it’s worth, we’ve got blue skies again!
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12:30pm
Well, at least we got 13 minutes of action…
Raducanu back in action at Queen’s – Luke Walker/Getty Images
Luke Walker/Getty Images
12:23pm
Rain, rain go away…
The skies were as blue as Raducanu’s outfit moments ago, but now the heavens have opened. The players leave the court in a hurry and the covers come on.
Raducanu races into a 3-0 lead before rain halts play – Toby Melville/Reuters
12:21pm
*Raducanu 3-0 Blinkova
Raducanu races into a 30-0 lead thanks to some confident ball-striking. A deep forehand into the corner traps Blinkova, who has not yet won a point on the Raducanu serve, and another love hold is sealed, this time with an ace.
12:19pm
Raducanu 2-0 Blinkova*
Blinkova gets to 15-0 but clips the net on the second point of the game, Raducanu pounces and fires a backhand winner past the Russian. Blinkova then goes long and a quality Raducanu return sets up two break points.
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She cannot take either, though, as Blinkova bangs down her first ace of the match to get to deuce. Raducanu does get another bite of the cherry after winning an extended forehand-to-forehand battle, and this time she converts. It’s a perfect start for the world No 42.
12:13pm
First Set: *Emma Raducanu 1-0 Anna Blinkova (*denotes server)
And we’re under way. Raducanu opens with a pair of excellent first serves which Blinkova cannot keep in play. A Blinkova forehand into the net gives Raducanu three game points and the Briton converts at the first time of asking. A hold to love.
12:08pm
Raducanu-Richardson: A winning formula?
The win-predictor has Emma at 68 per cent to win today’s contest.
12:06pm
The players are on court
Rain has disrupted the competition so far, but we’ve got blue skies in west London. Hopefully that lasts. Blinkova wins the toss and chooses to receive.
12:02pm
Boultercanu makes return
Raducanu will be pairing up with Billie Jean King Cup team-mate Katie Boulter in the doubles. Here’s what she had to say about the partnership.
11:57am
Order of play: Serena to make comeback
Here’s how the schedule shapes up on Andy Murray Arena for day two of the HSBC Championships:
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Emma Raducanu vs Anna Blinkova
Katie Boulter vs Leylah Fernandez [8] (interrupted at 3-6, 3-3)
Mika Stojsavljevic vs Marta Kostyuk [5]
Serena Williams and Victoria Mboko vs Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe [3]
11:53am
Emma Raducanu’s clay gamble risks costly grass-court consequences
Emma Raducanu might not have had time to reflect on the nature of her first-round defeat by the time she leaves Paris, but should she have played on the clay at all?
It has been far from an ideal 2026 for Raducanu, who has already dealt with a foot issue that affected her off-season and most significantly the effects of a post-viral illness that forced her to miss 72 days of the tour, and almost the entire clay-court season.
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The demands of clay-court tennis are harder on the body: the points are longer, the matches more gruelling and that is without the muscle demands of sliding on the loose surface or the heat in Paris.
Emma Raducanu’s lack of match practice on clay told during her French Open first-round defeat – Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters
During her 6-0, 7-6 defeat by Sierra Solana, Raducanu’s lack of match practice was laid bare in sweltering conditions in Paris, with the mercury sitting above 30C.
But given that she missed more than two-and-a-half months of the tour, and that clay is her least preferred surface, there is the question of whether she has compromised her grass-court season by attempting to play in the French slam.
Grass-court tennis requires very different movement patterns than clay. You have to stay much lower, in a semi-crouch, which puts enormous pressure on your glutes and hamstrings. For a less fragile player, the transition would be easier to handle. But we know that Raducanu struggles with the physicality of the tour. Two years ago, she skipped French Open qualifying in order to work on her grass-court preparation, and was rewarded with a run to the last 16 at Wimbledon.
11:49am
Raducanu’s 2026 results
11:41am
Raducanu begins grass campaign
Welcome to live coverage of Queen’s as Emma Raducanu gets her 2026 grass-court campaign under way. The surface, and the opportunity to play in front of a home crowd, has often come as a welcome scenery change for a player who has struggled to conquer the clay, and this year is no different. Here, in the first round, she faces Russia’s Anna Blinkova, who is in rude health after wins over Donna Vekic and Briton Jodie Burrage in qualifying.
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This season, Raducanu has failed to match the consistency she achieved in 2025. A run to the final in Cluj is by far her best performance in a season that has featured four first-round exits. Having battled with the after-effects of a viral illness developed in Romania, it was uncertain whether Raducanu would venture on to the clay at all. In the end, she played Strasbourg and the French Open, losing in the first round of both without taking a set. A split with coach Francisco Roig in January will have contributed to the instability, but Raducanu will hope rehiring Andrew Richardson – who guided her to US Open glory – will steady the ship.
Emma Raducanu (left) with coach Andrew Richardson – Luke Walker/Getty Images
Raducanu, ranked 42 in the world, is looking to defend the 108 points gained from reaching the quarter-finals in west London last year, when she lost to Qinwen Zheng in straight sets. The 2025 tournament marked the first time a WTA event had been held at Queen’s Club in 1973.