Donna Vekic Wins Queen’s Club Final in London, Extending Drought for Emma Raducanu

Donna Vekic secured her fourth WTA title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Emma Raducanu in the Queen’s Club Championships final on June 18, 2023, according to the ATP Tour. The match, held at the Queen’s Club in London, marked a continued slump for the British star, who has not won a singles title since her 2021 US Open triumph.

Vekic, the 10th seed, capitalized on Raducanu’s uncharacteristic errors to claim her first title of the year and extend her career record to 10-3 in 2023. The 27-year-old Croatian, ranked 17th in the world, advanced to the final after defeating fifth-seeded Leylah Fernandez in the semifinals, while Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, reached her first final since 2022.

What Was the Scoreline and Key Moments?

The final began with Vekic dominating the opening set, breaking Raducanu’s serve twice to take a 6-3 lead. The second set saw the British player claw back, holding serve in the fourth game to level the match at 3-3. However, Vekic regained control with a decisive break in the ninth game, sealing the victory with a forehand winner down the line.

Key moments included Vekic’s aggressive net play and Raducanu’s unforced errors, which totaled 28 in the match. According to the WTA’s match statistics, Vekic won 72% of points on her first serve, compared to Raducanu’s 63%. The Croatian also converted three of four break points, while Raducanu converted just one of six.

Why Was This Significant for Emma Raducanu?

Raducanu’s loss extended her title drought to 671 days, the longest of her career. The 21-year-old, who had won 10 of her previous 11 matches in 2023,