Vekic hangs tough to beat Raducanu in Queen's final
- Vekic begins the final in devastating fashion, belting ferocious winners all over the court
LONDON: Croatia’s Donna Vekic resisted a gutsy fightback by Emma Raducanu in front of a partisan crowd to claim the Queen’s Club title with a 6-0 7-6(6) victory on Sunday.
Vekic, who only got into the main draw as a lucky loser after defeat in qualifying, needed five match points to finally end Raducanu’s resistance and win her first title since 2023.
The 29-year-old began the final in devastating fashion, belting ferocious winners all over the court.
But Raducanu weathered the storm and got a double break ahead in the second set to lead 5-2 as Vekic went off the boil.
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Vekic rediscovered her spark, though, and hauled herself back onto level terms, saving a set point as Raducanu led 5-4.
Olympic runner-up Vekic then saw three match points go begging as she led 6-5 and, as the match headed to a tiebreak, both players looked out on their feet after some brutal rallies.
Raducanu saved another match point in the tiebreak but Vekic finally converted at the fifth attempt as a weary Raducanu sent a groundstroke into the tramlines.
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