Emma Raducanu has progressed to the second round of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club after securing a commanding 6-0 6-3 victory over Anna Blinkova.
The British No 1 dazzled a packed London crowd to wrap up a flawless opening set in just 20 minutes.
Dropping a mere six points during that initial period, the 2021 US Open champion struck 12 clean winners to immediately overwhelm her opponent.
Reunion with Richardson pays dividends
The impressive performance marked a welcome return to winning ways for the home favourite, who arrived at the grass-court tournament having not won a match in several months.
She appeared visibly happier on court under the watchful eye of coach Andrew Richardson.
The pair recently reunited ahead of the Wimbledon campaign, hoping to recreate the magic that propelled them to Grand Slam glory in New York.
Blinkova fights back but falls short
Despite the early onslaught, her Russian counterpart refused to capitulate and mounted a spirited second-set resistance.
An expertly executed volleyed drop-shot helped Blinkova claim her first game of the afternoon following an early break.
A momentary lapse in concentration then saw the British star produce three consecutive double faults, allowing the set to be levelled at 3-3.
However, the 23-year-old maintained her composure under mounting pressure to secure a decisive break for a 4-3 lead.
She confidently served out the remainder of the contest to book a safe passage into the next stage of the prestigious warm-up event.
‘No place I would rather have done it’
I’m so happy to have come through that match, and to be back here playing at Queen’s.
I haven’t won a match for a few months and there’s no place I would rather have done it.
I have a lot of people who mean a lot around me – I’m doing my best each day.
Being a part of the atmosphere is something I really enjoy – I don’t find it to be negative pressure, I really buzz off it and enjoy it.
Australian tennis player Ajla Tomljanovic says she is unfazed about losing her place in history ahead of Serena Williams’ surprise doubles comeback at Queen’s Club this week.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion originally bowed out of professional tennis in September 2022 following a thrilling third-round defeat by Tomljanovic at the US Open.
However, the American icon is set to rewrite her final chapter by taking to the grass courts in West Kensington.
That impending return means Tomljanovic will no longer hold the distinction of being the last person to face or defeat the former world number one.
A cherished New York memory
Despite the impending shift in the record books, the Australian holds no bitterness regarding her updated status.
“I remember feeling very conflicted when I played that match, and even after, because it was over for someone that I have looked up to for a very long time.”
“I experienced that match and got the win – but that was more amazing for me. I’ll always remember and cherish that.”
“In a way, I don’t really care for these history books where I might not be the last one. That’s totally OK with me.”
An unforgettable US Open farewell
The legendary American saved five match points before eventually succumbing 7-5 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 on a raucous Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Her highly anticipated farewell tour attracted a star-studded audience to Flushing Meadows, with figures like Tiger Woods and Bill Clinton witnessing her earlier victories.
A capacity crowd of nearly 24,000 spectators watched an intense battle that lasted over three hours.
“It was a crazy match,” Tomljanovic recalled.
“I just remember being so mentally stable in that match and battling so many things that you couldn’t really prepare for.”
Speaking directly to the partisan crowd after the victory, the Australian showed immense respect for her celebrated opponent.
“I’m feeling really sorry because I love Serena just as much as you guys do,” she said on court.
“What she’s done for me, for tennis, is incredible. She is the greatest of all time.”
The Queen’s Club comeback
The veteran superstar had originally stated she was evolving away from the sport in a first-person essay prior to the New York tournament.
When pressed on a potential return immediately after the loss to Tomljanovic, the fierce competitor admitted the door was never entirely closed.
“I don’t think so, but you never know,” she said at the time.
Now, the sporting world eagerly awaits her reappearance on the prestigious grass courts of West Kensington.
Twenty-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer will return to the US Open to play in a star-studded exhibition event on 25 August, days before his induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
The event, titled ‘Roger Federer: An Icon Returns to New York’, will take place at Flushing Meadows during the week prior to the main tournament.
The Swiss legend will be joined on court by former major champions Andy Roddick, John McEnroe and Andre Agassi.
The United States Tennis Association has confirmed further lineup announcements will be made closer to the date.
A historic return to Arthur Ashe Stadium
The beloved baseliner remains the only player to claim the New York major five consecutive times, dominating the hard courts between 2004 and 2008.
His last competitive appearance at the final Grand Slam of the calendar year came during the 2019 season.
The former world number one expressed his excitement about stepping back onto the famous American court.
“So many unforgettable moments of my career happened in New York, and Arthur Ashe Stadium is a place that means a great deal to me.”
“I’ve missed being part of that atmosphere and feeling the incredible energy that the fans bring every year.”
Hall of Fame honours await
The upcoming exhibition serves as a precursor to a milestone week for the retired sporting icon.
Following his New York appearance, he will travel to Newport, Rhode Island, for his official enshrinement ceremony on 29 August.
Roddick, who won his solitary major title at the US Open in 2003, immediately preceded the era of dominance established by the Swiss maestro.
Alexander Zverev and 19-year-old Mirra Andreeva have captured the French Open singles titles to conclude a thrilling fortnight of tennis at Roland Garros.
Many pundits had forecast a predictable tournament in Paris due to ailing superstars and high-profile injury withdrawals.
Instead, the clay-court major delivered seismic shocks, compelling drama, and memorable fairytale runs.
Zverev capitalises on chaotic men’s draw
The men’s competition was blown wide open early on following the absence of injured Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.
Top seed Jannik Sinner subsequently suffered a stunning second-round defeat to Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo.
The Italian had been the heaviest favourite to triumph in Paris since 14-time champion Rafael Nadal.
A new Grand Slam champion was then guaranteed when 39-year-old Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the third round.
Germany’s Zverev ultimately navigated the tense, upset-riddled draw to secure his place among the game’s greats.
The powerful baseline player survived a fittingly stressful final to lift the coveted Coupe des Mousquetaires.
I had the best and worst moments of my life here.
Teenage sensation Andreeva fulfils her destiny
In the women’s draw, Russian prodigy Andreeva demonstrated remarkable maturity to secure her maiden major championship.
The youngster maintained exceptional composure during a politically charged semi-final victory over Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk.
She then held her nerve in the showpiece final despite facing a fiercely partisan crowd.
New generation announces arrival in Paris
A host of emerging stars also enjoyed remarkable breakthrough moments across the men’s tournament.
Czech 20-year-old Jakub Mensik reached his first major semi-final by showcasing a thunderous serve and elite athleticism.
Brazilian Joao Fonseca and Spanish talent Rafael Jodar both surged into the quarter-finals on the Parisian dirt.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame delighted home supporters with his flamboyant style and fearless shot-making.
Further down the rankings, 24-year-old Polish qualifier Maja Chwalinska provided hope with an unprecedented fairytale run.
Having never previously earned direct entry into a major, the unheralded competitor captivated audiences during an unforgettable fortnight.
Carlos Alcaraz has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2026 due to an ongoing wrist injury ahead of the tournament’s start on June 29.
The two-time champion has failed to recover from the issue that previously ruled him out of the French Open.
His absence is a significant blow to the prestigious Grand Slam, which begins at the All England Club on Monday.
The 23-year-old Spaniard was the runner-up in last year’s gripping Centre Court final.
Sinner and Swiatek return to SW19
Jannik Sinner fought back from a set down in that 2025 showpiece to claim the men’s trophy for the very first time.
While the men’s draw has lost a major drawcard, the women’s singles promises intense competition.
Iga Swiatek returns to London looking to defend her crown following a dominant campaign last summer.
The defending champion demolished Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 to comprehensively secure the 2025 title.
She will face fierce challenges from the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
Schedule and ticket information
The two-week grass-court event runs from June 29 until the men’s singles final on Sunday, July 12.
Main draw matches on the outer courts are scheduled to commence daily at 11:00 BST.
Action on the primary show courts starts later, with No. 1 Court opening at 13:00 BST and Centre Court at 13:30 BST.
Fans hoping to secure last-minute access can still utilise the iconic Wimbledon queue for daily allocations.
Limited tickets for the main show courts and thousands of ground passes are distributed each morning.
Unsuccessful ballot entrants on the official waiting list may also find opportunities directly via the tournament website.
Premium options are also available through online Debenture tickets or official hospitality packages.
Serena Williams will make her return to professional tennis alongside teenager Victoria Mboko against third seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe in the first round of the HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club next week.
The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion is making a highly anticipated comeback to the professional game at the age of 44.
Her opening assignment in London pairs the American great with her young Canadian partner against a formidable seeded duo.
This tournament marks the beginning of a newly scheduled grass-court swing for the returning sporting icon.
Raducanu and Boulter form British duo
Elsewhere in the draw, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu will feature in both the singles and doubles competitions.
The British player has been drawn against a qualifier in her opening singles match and avoids top seed Elena Rybakina’s half of the draw.
She will also team up with compatriot Katie Boulter for a high-profile home partnership in the doubles event.
The home pair are scheduled to face Storm Hunter and Shuai Zhang in their first-round grass-court encounter.
Building match fitness for the summer
The legendary American has also added the Berlin Tennis Open to her upcoming schedule as she builds crucial match fitness.
Fans and pundits will be watching closely to see how the veteran handles the physical demands of the tour following her initial retirement.
Her performance at Queen’s will serve as a vital indicator of her readiness for the rigorous grass-court season ahead.
Emma Raducanu will face an unseeded qualifier in the opening round of her Queen’s Club debut, having been placed in the opposite half of the draw to world number two Elena Rybakina.
The Briton enters the London grass-court event seeking momentum after suffering a first-round exit at the French Open against Argentina’s Solana Sierra.
To prepare for the demanding grass swing, the former US Open champion has reunited with coach Andrew Richardson.
Richardson famously guided the sensational teenager to her landmark Flushing Meadows triumph in 2021.
Boulter faces tough path
Fellow British player Katie Boulter has also received a wildcard entry for the prestigious West London tournament.
The home favourite faces a challenging opening test against eighth seed Leylah Fernandez.
If successful, Boulter remains on a collision course to meet the formidable Rybakina in the third round.
The draw features significant depth across the board, with world number six Amanda Anisimova and ninth-ranked Victoria Mboko also joining the elite field.
Historic return to West London
This year marks only the second occasion the women’s HSBC Championships will be held following a 52-year absence from the WTA calendar.
German qualifier Tatjana Maria claimed the title upon the tournament’s triumphant revival in 2025.
The event serves as vital preparation for Wimbledon, effectively kicking off the British grass-court season just up the road from SW19.
Main draw singles action gets under way on June 8, culminating in the showpiece final on June 14.
Britain’s Henry Patten and Finnish partner Harri Heliovaara suffered a 6-4 6-2 defeat against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the French Open men’s doubles final on Saturday.
The second seeds entered the championship match having not dropped a single set on the Parisian clay.
However, they were comprehensively outplayed on Court Philippe-Chatrier by the top-seeded defending champions.
Despite the straight-sets loss, the reigning Wimbledon champions will be crowned joint world number ones in the updated rankings on Monday.
Service struggles cost second seeds
The showpiece event was largely characterised by erratic serving from both sides of the net.
Three breaks of serve occurred in a disrupted opening set before the Spanish-Argentine partnership successfully asserted their dominance.
Granollers and Zeballos broke immediately in the second set and raced into a commanding 3-0 advantage.
While the challengers managed to reclaim one break when the British specialist smashed away a weak second-serve return, they immediately surrendered their own service game again.
Granollers and Zeballos retain Parisian crown
Serving to stay in the championship at 5-1 down, Heliovaara produced a deft slice net volley to temporarily halt the impending defeat.
Yet the reprieve proved brief as Granollers delivered a superb final service game to seal their third major title together.
A powerful groundstroke from the Spaniard forced an error from Patten, who framed the ball into the crowd to conclude the contest.
British drought continues despite doubles boom
This result means the wait for a British men’s doubles champion at Roland Garros extends beyond 90 years.
Fred Perry and Pat Hughes remain the last British men to lift the trophy in the French capital following their triumph in 1933.
Nevertheless, the domestic game is currently enjoying a remarkable golden age in the doubles format.
Five British players reached the semi-finals of the season-ending ATP Finals late last year, an event ultimately won by the soon-to-be world number ones.