Croatia’s Donna Vekić captured the Queen’s Championship title with a straight-sets victory over Britain’s Emma Raducanu, defeating the home favourite 6-0, 7-6 (8-6) in a gripping women’s singles final.
Vekić dominated the opening set, overwhelming Raducanu with aggressive play to take it 6-0 in just over 20 minutes. However, the British No. 1 mounted an impressive comeback in the second set, building a double-break advantage and pushing the contest to a tense tie-break.
Despite Raducanu’s resilience, Vekić held her nerve in the decisive moments, saving two set points before converting her fifth championship point to seal the victory and claim her first WTA title since 2023.
The triumph marked a remarkable week for the Croatian, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser after being eliminated in qualifying but went on to lift the trophy with a series of impressive performances.
For Raducanu, reaching the final represented a significant milestone in her comeback season. After missing more than two months due to a post-viral illness and winning only one match since March, the former US Open champion produced strong performances throughout the tournament, including straight-set victories over Kamilla Rakhimova in the quarter-finals and sixth seed Iva Jovic in the semi-finals.
Reflecting on the tournament after the final, Raducanu thanked the home crowd for their unwavering support and described the week as an unforgettable experience.
“It has been an incredible week for me, making the final here in my home city and at my home tournament,” she said. “Donna played exceptionally well from start to finish, and I’m grateful for all the support that helped me fight back in the second set.”
The runner-up finish was Raducanu’s third appearance in a tour-level final and her first on grass, while Vekić’s victory reinforced her return to top form ahead of the remainder of the season.
