Raducanu beats Blinkova 6-0, 6-3 to reach Queen's Club second round
Synopsis
Emma Raducanu didn't just win a tennis match at Queen's Club — she ended a three-month drought in the most emphatic way possible, dropping just three games against Blinkova. After illness and back-to-back first-round exits, the British No. 1 looks like herself again on grass, and the timing — just weeks before Wimbledon — could not be better.
Key Takeaways
Emma Raducanu defeated Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-3 in the first round at Queen's Club on 9 June .
It was her first win in more than three months , since beating Anastasia Zakharova at Indian Wells on 6 March .
Raducanu had been sidelined for over two months by a post-viral illness before returning to the WTA Tour.
She suffered first-round exits in both Strasbourg and the French Open on her comeback before Tuesday's result.
The 23-year-old called the win 'a really good stepping stone' for the grass-court season ahead of Wimbledon .
Emma Raducanu made a commanding return to form on Tuesday, 9 June, sweeping past Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-3 in the first round at Queen's Club, London, to claim her first victory in more than three months and sharpen her preparations for Wimbledon.
A Dominant Display from the First Ball
Playing her first grass-court match of the 2025 season, the British No. 1 was relentless from the opening game. Raducanu raced through the first eight games without dropping a single point before closing out the match against the Russian qualifier with little fuss. The clinical performance was a stark contrast to the struggles that had defined her recent weeks on tour.
End of a Three-Month Drought
The win was Raducanu's first since she defeated Anastasia Zakharova in the opening round at Indian Wells on 6 March. The 23-year-old had been sidelined for over two months by a post-viral illness, and her return to the WTA Tour had been rocky — she suffered first-round exits in both Strasbourg and at the French Open. Tuesday's result, then, carried significant weight beyond the scoreline.
Home Crowd, Home Comfort
Backed by a vocal home crowd at Queen's Club, Raducanu looked relaxed and assured throughout — qualities that had been conspicuously absent during her recent run of early defeats. The atmosphere appeared to suit her, and she showed none of the tentativeness that had accompanied her post-illness comeback matches.
'I'm so happy to have come through that match. To be back here playing at Queen's, I haven't won a match in a few months, and there isn't a place I would rather have done it,' Raducanu said after the victory. 'I'm really grateful for all the support.'
What This Means for Wimbledon
The former US Open champion described the performance as 'a really good stepping stone' for the rest of the grass-court season. With Wimbledon approaching as the year's third Grand Slam, Raducanu will hope this convincing win marks the start of a sustained run of form rather than an isolated result. Notably, grass has historically been her most productive surface — it was at Wimbledon in 2021 that she first announced herself to the world before her landmark US Open triumph later that year. A second round at Queen's Club offers her the chance to build match sharpness at precisely the right moment.
Point of View
6-3 scoreline flatters no one — Raducanu was genuinely dominant, and that matters more than the ranking of her opponent. The real story is the timing: a post-viral illness that wiped out two months, followed by two first-round exits, had raised legitimate questions about her readiness for the grass-court swing. One match does not answer those questions, but the manner of this win — no points dropped in the first eight games — suggests her movement and confidence on grass remain intact. If she can sustain this level into the second round and beyond, the Wimbledon draw will take notice.
NationPress
7 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of Emma Raducanu's match at Queen's Club on 9 June?
Emma Raducanu defeated Anna Blinkova 6-0, 6-3 in the first round at Queen's Club on 9 June, advancing to the second round. She dropped just three games across the entire match.
When was Raducanu's last win before Queen's Club?
Her last win before this match was against Anastasia Zakharova in the first round at Indian Wells on 6 March. That made Tuesday's result her first victory in more than three months.
Why had Raducanu been struggling before Queen's Club?
Raducanu was sidelined for over two months by a post-viral illness. On returning to the WTA Tour, she suffered first-round defeats at both Strasbourg and the French Open before her win at Queen's Club.
How does this result affect Raducanu's Wimbledon preparations?
Raducanu herself described the victory as 'a really good stepping stone' for the grass-court season. The win provides match sharpness and confidence ahead of Wimbledon, where she has historically performed well.
Who is Anna Blinkova?
Anna Blinkova is a Russian tennis player who entered the Queen's Club draw as a qualifier. Raducanu defeated her 6-0, 6-3 in the first round on 9 June.
