“It’s the new Emma”: Raducanu powers into second final of the season at Queen’s Club Championships

Emma Raducanu advanced to the Queen’s Club final after a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Iva Jovic in the HSBC Championships semi-final, completing a demanding day in which she also played — and won — her quarter-final against Kamilla Rakhimova. The British No. 1 maintained a straight-sets record across both matches despite the physical load.

The result sends Raducanu into her second WTA Tour final of 2026, extending a run in which she has not dropped a set throughout the tournament. Her semi-final win over Jovic followed a similarly controlled performance earlier in the day against Rakhimova.

She will face Croatia’s Donna Vekic in Sunday’s final after Vekic defeated Katie Boulter in the other semi-final, preventing an all-British title match at Queen’s Club. The outcome also has implications for Wimbledon seeding, with Raducanu’s ranking situation still under evaluation.

The 23-year-old’s return to form has coincided with the reappointment of coach Andrew Richardson, who previously guided her to the 2021 US Open title. Her post-match comments centred on stability, consistency, and a more defined competitive identity.

Raducanu’s reflection on her current form centred on continuity with her coaching setup and a deliberate reframing of her playing identity. She emphasised that Richardson’s return has reinforced a structured but flexible approach, allowing her to execute a clearer version of her game across consecutive matches.

Rather than describing a return to past patterns, she rejected that framing entirely, instead positioning her current level as an evolved version shaped by accumulated experience. The emphasis was on adaptation, not regression, with tactical awareness presented as a key differentiator in 2026.

“Well, I think it's great to have him back. I think we've been working on this game style the whole week. I've been playing really really good tennis and the brand of tennis that I really want to play.”

She expanded that idea by explicitly separating her current form from her 2021 breakthrough period, highlighting the role of accumulated experience in shaping decision-making. The result, in her view, is a more complete competitive profile rather than a return to earlier habits.

“I wouldn't say it's necessarily the old Emma, I think it's the new Emma because you take all the lessons and experience you know all the different ups and downs and you take everything. You understand a lot more what's going on and what works for you so I'd say it's the yeah I'm back and better.”

Raducanu’s run at Queen’s has also been defined by workload management, with two matches played on the same day ahead of the semi-final. Despite the physical demands, she maintained straight-sets victories throughout the tournament, including wins over two top-20 opponents, reinforcing the competitive consistency of her week.

She referenced both her quarter-final and semi-final performances as part of a broader pattern of improved execution across different match contexts. “I think I'm playing really good tennis. I played really good tennis today against Iva, against Sorana (Cirstea), first round (Blinkova). This morning as well was tricky.”

A central theme in her post-match analysis was the importance of playing without constraint, which she described as being her “most authentic self.” She linked this directly to performance output, suggesting that reduced tension and greater enjoyment are now functional components of her match play.

“I think the lessons would probably be to be my most authentic self, my personality. I think it's clear this week that I had a lot of fun on the court and I'm smiling and I'm enjoying it and that's when I feel like the best level can kind of flow out from there rather than trying to put me in any type of mould.”

Her comments also reflected a structural role for her coaching team, particularly in creating an environment that avoids over-definition of her game style. The implication is a shift away from rigid tactical frameworks towards a more adaptive, player-led model of execution heading into the final against Vekic.