Raducanu to Face Jovic After 6-3, 7-5 Victory
British No 1 Emma Raducanu advanced to the semi-finals at the Queen’s Club by defeating Uzbekistani lucky loser Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 7-5, despite suffering an injury scare during the match.
Raducanu appeared to be in control early on a sunny day at Barons Court, leading 6-3, 3-1. However, she slipped on the slick grass and immediately showed signs of pain, clutching her left thigh. The injury cast doubt over her ability to close out the match as her lead began to diminish.
Despite the setback, Raducanu demonstrated resilience and composure, ultimately securing her place in the semi-finals for the first time at Queen’s Club. Her upcoming opponent will be 18-year-old Iva Jovic, the sixth seed and world No 19, with their match scheduled later the same day.
"I think it’s a mix of adrenaline, but it was tough to take that fall. I felt like I was a pretty good spot in the match. On grass, these things happen. I found it pretty tough to regroup, but I’m really proud of how I did that with the help of [the home crowd]," Raducanu said when asked about her thigh.
Match Progress and Injury Impact
Raducanu’s victory marked her best performance in over a year, as she served effectively and played decisive, offensive tennis in straight sets. The match had been postponed from Thursday due to rain, which canceled all play that day. Consequently, all second-round winners on Saturday were scheduled to play twice.
Meanwhile, Katie Boulter caused an upset by defeating world No 2 Elena Rybakina on Friday evening to reach the semi-finals. Boulter will face Donna Vekic, a lucky loser but a strong grass-court player who achieved a career-high ranking of No 17 after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in 2024.
Raducanu’s slip occurred early in Rakhimova’s service game while she was leading 6-3, 3-1. Although not as severe as Victoria Mboko’s fall earlier in the week—which resulted in Mboko’s immediate retirement and withdrawal from Wimbledon due to a torn MCL—Raducanu took time to recover, holding her inner thigh as she rose.
Following the fall, Raducanu moved cautiously and requested medical assistance, receiving an off-court timeout. She returned with her left thigh taped, but the momentum of the match shifted. She quickly faced a 0-40 deficit in her service game and soon lost three consecutive games, falling behind 3-4 in the second set.
Rakhimova did not aggressively capitalize on Raducanu’s limited movement, instead opting to keep the ball in play and wait for errors. Raducanu appeared mentally unsettled but regained focus and forced herself back on the offensive to secure the win.
Significance and Future Outlook
This semi-final appearance is Raducanu’s fifth tour-level semi-final since 2021 and her second at WTA 500 level or higher. After a challenging year marked by physical issues and absences, she is showing signs of comfort and confidence on court.
While this achievement represents a positive step forward, Raducanu’s attention will now turn to managing her injury and preparing to compete against one of the world’s top players in her upcoming match.
