Raducanu vs Zheng LIVE!
Emma Raducanu is back in action this afternoon as she looks to reach the semi-finals at Queen’s Club. It has been an impressive run at the HSBC Championships so far for the 2021 US Open winner, who brushed aside both Cristina Bucsa and Rebecca Sramkova without dropping a single set to reach the last eight on a historic week in west London as she builds up to Wimbledon later this month.
Those results coupled with an early second-round exit for doubles partner Katie Boulter will see Raducanu take back British No1 status for the first time in two years. She now faces a tough test against top seed Qinwen Zheng, who was given a bye through the first round before holding her nerve in a deciding set against American McCartney Kessler on Thursday.
China’s Zheng is the current world No5 and a winner of five titles on the WTA Tour so far, reaching the Australian Open final last year before going on to claim singles gold at the Olympic Games in Paris. Follow Raducanu vs Zheng at Queen’s live below!
Raducanu vs Zheng latest news
- Start time
- How to watch
- Prediction
- Latest Queen's Club results today
- Raducanu to replace Boulter as British No1
GAME, SET, AND MATCH: Raducanu 2-6 4-6 Zheng
18:28 , Oli GentNot a great start for Raducanu, but the dream one for Zheng with a superb return winner wide on the forehand.
An unforced error hauls Raducanu deeper into murky waters as the crowd try to lift her, but her serve seems to be letting her down, netting her first serve on 0-30 and a net cord saving her second, before she sends it into tape once more.
Three match points for the Olympic champion.
A good serve saves the first, and the body serve catches Zheng out to save the second.
Zheng sends a backhand return into the net to spurn the third, but a drop shot that the Chinese is quick up to is gobbled up, as her backhand is too much for Raducanu.
A final forehand is blasted long by the Briton, and her run comes to an abrupt end at Queen’s.
Raducanu (2-6) 4-5 Zheng*
18:22 , Oli GentZheng is looking very composed and back into her rhythm, having fully recovered from a double-break down.
A lovely topspin forehand winner makes it 30-0, and a stunning backhand down the line makes the crowd gasp for three game points.
She sends a forehand just long after a good Raducanu return, but she ekes her nose in front with a smash putaway on top of the net.
Raducanu will serve to stay in the tournament.
BREAK: *Raducanu (2-6) 4-4 Zheng
18:18 , Oli GentA forehand winner from Zheng gives the top seed the perfect start to go 0-15 up, and an unforced error makes it 0-30.
Alarm bells and a nervous air whistles around the Andy Murray Arena, but there is a cheer as Zheng overcooks a forehand return.
The Briton misjudges her service toss twice, but fires back with some powerful ball-striking as another shank from Zheng dashes her advantage.
A great return, however, from the Chinese stuns Raducanu, who had gone for the wide serve, and Zheng forces a break point, and Raducanu’s break cushion is gone as she double-faults.
Raducanu (2-6) 4-3 Zheng*
18:13 , Oli GentThe Olympic champion is still breathing down the neck of Raducanu as she holds serve with relative ease.
This coming game is the big one now for Raducanu. What can she muster as she looks to level proceedings?
*Raducanu (2-6) 4-2 Zheng
18:09 , Oli GentA hold to love!
A very solid service game from the Briton, who can serve for the set with a double-break in this next game...
Raducanu (2-6) 3-2 Zheng*
18:04 , Arthur FerridgeZheng converts her serve to pull within one of Raducanu, but did not do it in straightforward fashion.
She had to rescue two break points to keep Raducanu down, eventually fighting back to deuce and closing out the game.
She will need a break soon, though, if she is to keep this affair to two sets.
BREAK: *Raducanu (2-6) 3-1 Zheng
17:57 , Arthur FerridgeZheng hits back to cut down Raducanu’s advantage.
She flies out of the blocks to a 40-15 lead, and forces an error from Raducanu to trim down the deficit.
BREAK: Raducanu (2-6) 3-0 Zheng*
17:51 , Arthur FerridgeIn a moment of crisis, Zheng opts for a new racket. A last-ditch tactic, one could argue, as she looks to arrest Raducanu’s flow.
And it looks briefly to have worked as she takes the first point with fresh equipment in hand, but that is the extent of her good vibes.
She fires long to hand Raducanu a pair of break points, acing to rescue the first before letting the second pass her by.
Raducanu leads by three in the second set.
*Raducanu (2-6) 2-0 Zheng
17:47Bish, bash, bosh. Bang tidy.
A straightforward game from Raducanu, who drops her first service point of the set before hitting four on the bounce, including an ace or two, to take a 2-0 lead.
She closes it out with a sweet dropshot which only barely clears the net, and Zheng can only watch as it bounces away from her.
A tangible momentum shift is taking place here.
BREAK: Raducanu (2-6) 1-0 Zheng*
17:44 , Arthur FerridgeEmma Raducanu would probably agree that she plays her best tennis with a smile on her face , but there are worry lines appearing here as she exchanges questioning glances with her support staff.
But she battles through a difficult game to break early in the second set! It was Zheng’s mistakes that let her back into it, coming back from 40-15 down to deuce.
Raducanu rescued two Zheng advantages before finally coming back to convert her first break point of the day.
That was a marathon game. Let’s see if she can carry the momentum.
Raducanu returns from medical timeout
17:35 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu is known to have been dealing with a back issue in recent months, and takes a short medical break before carrying on in this match.
Zheng serves to open the second set.
SET: *Raducanu 2-6 Zheng
17:27 , Arthur FerridgeThis match could well slip away from Raducanu - Zheng seems comfortably in control of this now.
She takes a 30-0 lead in the game with a spectacular return from a blistering second serve, but lets off the gas slightly to allow Raducanu back in.
The Brit misses long to hand Zheng a set point.
As Zheng slips again, Raducanu looks on course to fight on, but hits the net to close out the first set.
Raducanu 2-5 Zheng*
17:21 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu looks ready to come back on serve, but can’t quite get it over the line.
She battles through another gritty rally to tee up two break points, but can’t convert either.
Zheng scrapes through to deuce, and Raducanu hits a forehand into the net to fall behind by two.
BREAK: *Raducanu 2-4 Zheng
17:16 , Arthur FerridgeZheng is looking the far more likely here as she forces another pair of break points.
She slips to lose the first and takes an extended break to change her shoes, before Raducanu battles to win the second after a huge rally.
From deuce, Raducanu takes the first advantage but hits long from her finisher.
Zheng takes the advantage at the second time of asking, but this time Raducanu takes her turn to overturn it.
She does not make the same mistake twice, though, converting the break.
Raducanu 2-3 Zheng*
17:05 , Arthur FerridgeZheng is looking the far more confident party here, hitting two aces to leap to a 30-0 lead in the game.
But a double fault follows, handing Raducanu a lifeline, and she takes another point to pull within one.
But Zheng digs deep to find a tidy finisher and put the game to bed.
*Raducanu 2-2 Zheng
17:01 , Arthur FerridgeA pair of double faults open Raducanu’s service game, the second of which is met by an awkward smattering of apprehensive applause from those in the stands.
She slips after a long rally to hand Zheng a pair of break points.
The first she rescues with an ace. That serve is really running hot and cold today.
The second she rescues with a rifled forehand to force deuce.
After denying Zheng a third break point at the advantage, she aces again to take the lead and converts to hold serve.
Raducanu 1-2 Zheng*
16:54 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu looks to get aggressive in pursuit of an early break, rushing the net early in the game, but can’t quite convert the crucial drop shot.
She battles through the game, though, winning two points on the bounce to force Zheng to deuce.
Zheng is making few mistakes here - Raducanu is putting her in awkward positions with some pinpoint finishers.
But the Chinese contender is yet to blink, and recovers from losing her first advantage to win the game.
*Raducanu 1-1 Zheng
16:47 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu announces herself to the Andy Murray Arena with a blistering ace on her first serve of the afternoon.
She follows it up with a double-fault to hand a point to Zheng, but recovers from the blip in short order to close out the game with another ace and hold serve.
Raducanu 0-1 Zheng*
16:42 , Arthur FerridgeRaduancu starts fast, launching to a 30-0 lead in Zheng’s first service game.
Zheng battles back, though, hitting an ace to win her first point of the outing before catching the Briton wrong-footed to equalise.
A pair of errors from Zheng bring us back to deuce, though she steadies herself to hold her first serve of the day.
We are underway!
16:38 , Arthur FerridgeZheng wins the toss and will serve first to get this match underway.
Raducanu and Zheng take the court
16:32 , Arthur FerridgeBoth players have arrived at the Andy Murray Arena. We will be underway soon!
More from Raducanu on yesterday's clash
16:32 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu speaks again on beating Sramkova yesterday.
“I was very clinical. When I had the lead, I capitalised. It's normal and good to have adversity to push through.
“As the tournament wears on, the players get better. I could feel [the tension] but I had big support.
“The crowd has been amazing here in every match. It has been such a help, and I am so happy to be playing on home turf.”
Raducanu looking forward to playing more doubles
16:25 , Arthur FerridgeSingles is the priority for Raducanu today, but she said she is keen to continue her doubles partnership with Katie Boulter, affectionately dubbed Boultucanu.
“I really want to play with Katie again in the future,” she said. “Maybe over the grass, but for sure in the future.”
Raducanu on next!
16:19Maria completes her upset win over Rybakina - and you know what that means.
Raducanu vs Zheng, up next!
Raducanu assesses yesterday's win
16:16 , Arthur FerridgeRacucanu said she was proud of her performance in yesterday’s match, where she beat Rebecca Sramkova to progress in the tournament.
"I am really pleased to get through that," she said. "I don't think it was my cleanest performance but I am really pleased to push through in the tight moments. I really appreciate the support in that spell when she was coming back.
"I came out ready, expecting everything. I am just happy I was able to get off to a good start and build a lead."
Rybakina breaks back!
16:06 , Arthur FerridgeHang tight, tennis fans.
Rybakina broke Maria as she was serving for the match, so we could yet go to a third set here.
Maria is now serving to force a tiebreaker.
When will Raducanu and Zheng get underway?
15:58 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu and Zheng will start as soon as Maria vs Rybakina finishes.
Maria is about to serve for the match there, meaning we could see Raducanu and Zheng very soon.
Zheng's route
15:55The world No5 and Queen’s No1 seed Zheng has played just once so far in this competition.
She faced American McCartney Kessler in the Round of 16 yesterday and required three sets to get by her, winning 6-3 4-6 7-5.
Raducanu's route
15:49 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu has looked back to her best at Queen’s, enjoying the backing of the home crowd.
She downed Cristina Bucsa in short order 6-1 6-2 on Tuesday to open her grass season, and recovered from a small early wobble to record a straight sets 6-4 6-1 triumph over Rebecca Šramková yesterday.
That win saw her reclaim the British No1 title.
She had also dipped a toe in the doubles pool, playing alongside Katie Boulter. The pair were knocked out in the quarter-final by Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok 6-2 7-5.
Inhospitable conditions in SW London
15:44 , Arthur FerridgeThe weather may well play a role this afternoon, with temperatures fast approaching 30°.
There is hardly a cloud in the sky, and very little wind either.
With the sun beating down, fitness and endurance will surely come to play a role as this match wears on, particularly if it reaches a third set.
Raducanu to replace Boulter as British No1
15:37 , Arthur FerridgeEmma Raducanu will become British number one on Monday after Katie Boulter bowed out at Queen's Club with a 2-6 6-3 6-2 second-round defeat to Russian fifth-seed Diana Shnaider.
Boulter, who replaced 2021 US Open winner Raducanu in the top spot exactly two years ago, looked sharp in her first set, saving two break points, breaking the Russian's serve twice, and hitting 10 winners.
Queen's Club results today
15:32 , Arthur FerridgeOnly one other quarter-final tie has been completed so far today.
Madison Keys won out over Diana Shnaider in that match to progress, 2-6 6-3 6-4.
Tatjana Maria is currently a set ahead against Elena Ryabinka.
Prediction: Raducanu to go the distance
15:23 , Arthur FerridgeRaducanu has looked strong on the grass so far through this Queen’s Club campaign. After a tricky first set yesterday, she rallied back to a commanding Rebecca Šramková, highlighting the mental strength she has seemed to lack in years gone by.
She is clearly enjoying herself on home turf, but will have to dig deep to continue in the tournament.
Raducanu to win, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
How to watch
15:22 , Arthur FerridgeTV channel: In the UK, live free-to-air coverage of the action at Queen’s Club begins today at 1pm BST on BBC Two, continuing through to 6pm.
Live stream: You can also watch all the matches live online via the BBC Sport website and BBC iPlayer.
Start time
15:17 , Arthur FerridgeEmma Raducanu and Qinwen Zheng are due to take the Andy Murray Arena at 3:30, following the conclusion of Ryabinka vs Maria, currently early in the second set.
Good afternoon
15:10 , Arthur FerridgeHello, and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Emma Raducanu vs Qinwen Zheng in the Queen’s Club Championship quarter-final.
