Emma Raducanu storms into Queen’s final after beating Iva Jovic on marathon day
By Rachel Steinberg, Press Association
Emma Raducanu stormed into the final of the HSBC Championships after thumping American Iva Jovic 6-2 6-2 on a day that saw the British number one win two matches at Queen’s.
Raducanu reached the third WTA Tour-level final of her career by brushing aside 18-year-old Jovic in straight sets in London.
The weather-plagued second edition of the women’s tournament at Queen’s meant Raducanu had a busy day, first beating Kamilla Rakhimova 6-3 7-5 at the Andy Murray Arena in a quarter-final briefly interrupted by the King’s birthday flyover before facing Jovic.
The 23-year-old’s opponent for Sunday’s final will be Croatian lucky loser Donna Vekic, who beat British number three Katie Boulter in straight sets in the match preceding Raducanu’s on centre court.
“This week has been incredible,” Raducanu said on court.
“I’ve really enjoyed playing here and I think that really shows in my tennis and how I’ve been able to compete, stick out some really tough moments and it means everything.”
Raducanu will hope to finally add to the US Open title she memorably claimed as a wild card in 2021.
“Of course, if you ask any player, especially any Brit, you would love to lift the title here,” she added.
Last month, after running through a carousel of coaches since, the Briton rehired Andrew Richardson, the man who helped her land that historic title.
She also reached the final at the Transylvania Open in February, exacting revenge on that tournament’s winner, Sorana Cirstea, in the last 16 at Queen’s.
A slip in the second set of Raducanu’s quarter-final sparked concern about the Briton’s fitness after she emerged from a medical pause with her left thigh wrapped in heavy tape, which she later removed in that victory.
She appeared on court before the semi-final with a smaller patch in the same area, Jovic also sporting strapping on her left ankle.
Raducanu earned her first break with an 80mph winner in the fourth game and there was a pause after she held the next for Jovic to consult her physiotherapist.
The Briton used the pause to fuel up, munching on a banana as Jovic’s ankle was re-strapped, and it was not long before Raducanu, who had not dropped a set in her run to the semi-final, wrapped up the first.
Jovic looked visibly frustrated as she walked off the court and Raducanu, inspired by the home support, was quickly up a break after the second game before the opponents exchanged breaks over the next two.
Raducanu saved three break points to take a 4-1 lead after a lengthy fifth game as the more rested Jovic, who beat compatriot Amanda Anisimova in three sets on Saturday to reach the semi-final, looked for a way to throw the home favourite off her game and held to make it 5-2.
But Raducanu would not be deterred, fighting through a gritty service game to put herself one game away from a place in Sunday’s final and superbly polishing off the win with a third break in the set of the nevertheless formidable American teenager’s serve.
