"Say something. You're saying nothing" - Tensions flare in Queen's final as Raducanu directs criticism towards box

Emma Raducanu suffered a second final defeat of 2026 after losing 6-0, 7-6(6) to Donna Vekic at the Queen's Club Championships. After a dreadful opening to the match, she was seen dishing out criticism to her team as she searched for a way back into the tie.

Raducanu is still yet to add another title to her name since winning the US Open back in 2021 as an 18-year-old. She went into the final as the firm favourite on home soil and with a passionate crowd backing her every more.

Vekic played a blinding first set, winning the first seven games of the match and leaving Raducanu in a spot of bother. In just 29 minutes, Raducanu was bageled and had a mountain to climb.

She looked over to her team for inspiration but seemed to have not got much from them. "Say something," she shouted towards her box. "You're saying nothing."

Now back with Andrew Richardson, who coached her during that major success, the pair know each other relatively well. However, on that occasion Raducanu was not getting what she wanted. Maybe a hint of rustiness with the pair only getting back together in May.

The box reacted and the 23-year-old seemed to gain a bit of momentum. She stormed into a 5-2 lead before failing to serve out the match on two separate occasions, missing two set points in the process. Vekic came back to lead 6-5 before Raducanu forced a tiebreak. It was remarkably tense as Vekic missed a fourth match point but eventually got over the line for a first title since March 2023.

While this is bitterly disappointing for Raducanu, she is stepping in the right direction after a long period on the sidelines. Her season began slowly, highlighted by Francisco Roig adding himself to the long list of former Raducanu coaches.

Right after this, the British number one reached the Transylvania Open final where she won a measly two games against the home favourite Sorana Cirstea in a bruising defeat. The first two WTA 1000 tournaments of the year in Doha and Dubai resulted in second round defeats with a virus proving to be the catalyst. She managed to get back to winning ways at Indian Wells before Amanda Anisimova sent her out.

She would not step onto the court for over two months, missing most of the clay swing with her return coming at the Internationaux de Strasbourg in preparation for Roland Garros. Both results in first round exits with her dropping down the rankings outside the top 40.

Back on home soil, she has thoroughly enjoyed being back on grass and has shown her class in which no one doubts but can be seldom seen at times with inconsistency on court plaguing her progress. Defeating the likes of Cirstea and most notably Iva Jovic without dropping a set to the final sees Raducanu back to her best form.

"It's been an incredible week for me, making the final here, playing in my home city, in my home tournament," she said after the final defeat. "The support I have received all week has been incredible but I really want to take this opportunity to thank everyone. Today was a really tough match. Donna played extremely well from the start to the finish. So thanks for getting me through some tough moments this week and also for helping me push back in that second set."

Alongside a familiar and trustworthy name in Richardson, there will be a lot of hope heading to Wimbledon and beyond. She will turn her attention to the Nottingham Open before making a return to the Eastbourne Open, playing a full grass swing as she looks to capitalise on this short period on the tennis calendar.