Emma Raducanu showed remarkable resilience as she overcame an injury scare to defeat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3, 7-5 and book her place in the semi-finals of the Queen’s Club Championships.
The British number one slipped while attempting to change direction during the second set and required medical treatment off court. The incident raised concerns about her fitness, especially after she left the court with visible discomfort.
When Raducanu returned, her left thigh was heavily strapped, and she briefly struggled to regain her rhythm. Rakhimova capitalised on the situation by breaking serve and putting pressure on the former US Open champion.
Strong response after treatment
Despite the setback, Raducanu gradually found her footing and produced a determined response. Encouraged by her coaching team and the home crowd, she broke Rakhimova’s serve to move 5-4 ahead in the second set.
The Uzbek player fought back immediately, denying Raducanu the chance to close out the match on serve. However, the Briton remained composed, secured another crucial break, and eventually converted her third match point to seal victory.
Speaking after the match, Raducanu admitted it had been a difficult contest.
“It was really tricky. She played some incredible tennis and got a lot of balls back. It was an up-and-down match and I’m really grateful for the support I had in some tough moments,” she said.
“It was tough to take the fall. I was in a good spot in the match and found it difficult to regroup, but I’m proud of how I managed to do that.”
Two British players reach last four
Raducanu’s victory means Britain has two representatives in the semi-finals, with Katie Boulter also progressing to the last four.
The 23-year-old praised the achievement, saying it was a positive moment for British tennis and wished Boulter success in her own semi-final.
Earlier in the tournament, Raducanu recorded her first victory over a top-20 opponent in more than a year by defeating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. She has now reached the semi-finals without dropping a set.
Busy day ahead for Raducanu
Raducanu faces a quick turnaround as she returns later on Saturday to take on American teenager Iva Jovic in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Boulter will meet Croatia’s Donna Vekic for a place in the final.
If Raducanu can maintain her form and recover fully from the injury scare, she will move one step closer to securing her biggest title since her memorable US Open triumph in 2021.
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