Raducanu: Expressive Play Key to First Win Since March

By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport

Red clay season was a sink hole for Emma Raducanu.

Today, the 2021 US Open champion put her best foot forward in her grass court return.

Raducanu reeled off eight straight games dismissing qualifier Anna Blinkova, 6-0, 6-3 on Andy Murray Court on the historic grass of Queen’s Club today.

It was Raducanu’s first win since she defeated qualifier Anastasia Zakharova in her Indian Wells opener last March. Raducanu won 25 of 31 points in the first set, stamping three shutout games in dishing the opening bagel.

“I feel like I started extremely well, and I think despite not having played a lot of matches, I was really pleased with how I came out and was playing very free,” Raducanu said. “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. It felt very natural.”

British women found their comfort zone on home soil.

British wild card Katie Boulter edged 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 3-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 in her opener.

The 42-ranked Raducanu said expressing herself, both during and between points, was an essential element of her winning grass return today.

“I think it was a really good steppingstone, and I think the way I was feeling on the court, the way I was moving, the way I was expressing myself, just the whole package, not necessarily the tennis, just how I kind of was acting on the court, I really enjoyed it,” Raducanu said. “I think that’s something that I want to take forward in all of my matches and really embrace this grass court season.”

Last month, Raducanu, who changes coaches nearly as often as some players change shoes, announced she has reunited with coach Andrew Richardson, the man who coached her to the 2021 US Open championship. Today, Raducanu said she’s pleased with her progress working with Richardson.

“Yeah, we have been working day in, day out, since I started training again, and even throughout the clay season we have been working and putting good shifts in each day,” Raducanu said. “You don’t know when it’s going to pay off. I think it’s work that’s compounded over the last few weeks.

“Of course there is a lot more work to do, but I think I’m really just trying to enjoy the process, despite the results, keep showing up each day with the best attitude and the best commitment I can.”