Tennis-Vekic hangs tough to beat Raducanu in Queen’s final

By Martyn Herman

LONDON, June 14 (Reuters) – 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.

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.

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Toby Chopra)

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