The grass courts of Queen’s Club are set to ignite with anticipation as the inaugural HSBC Championships, a WTA 500 event marking the return of women’s tennis to the iconic London venue after a 52-year hiatus, unveiled a star-studded draw on June 7, 2025. Among the headline names is British sensation Emma Raducanu, the 2021 US Open champion, who faces a daunting path in her grass-court season opener. The 22-year-old wildcard entrant, fresh off a challenging clay season, could find herself squaring off against reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round, setting the stage for a blockbuster showdown that has tennis fans buzzing with excitement.
Raducanu, currently ranked No. 49, opens her campaign against a yet-to-be-determined qualifier, a match that offers a chance to ease into the grass season where she has shown promise in recent years. However, the draw quickly escalates in difficulty. Should she advance, Raducanu is on a collision course with Krejcikova, the No. 7 seed and world No. 16, who is returning from a back injury that sidelined her for much of 2025. Krejcikova, who claimed the 2024 Wimbledon title with a thrilling 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Jasmine Paolini, faces Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova in her opener. “Heading into the grass court season as the Wimbledon champion is going to be really special,” Krejcikova said, expressing her eagerness to compete at Queen’s Club and build momentum for her Wimbledon title defense. The Czech star, also a 2021 French Open champion, brings a formidable grass-court pedigree, making her a stern test for Raducanu.
The Queen’s Club draw, conducted on the London Eye with Krejcikova and British wildcard Jodie Burrage assisting, is packed with talent. Top seed Zheng Qinwen, world No. 7 and an Olympic gold medalist, anchors the top quarter, where Raducanu and Krejcikova reside. Zheng, who has a first-round bye, awaits the winner of a match between British wildcard Francesca Jones and American McCartney Kessler. A potential quarterfinal clash with Zheng looms for Raducanu if she navigates past Krejcikova, adding further intrigue to her path. The lower half of the draw features heavyweights like second seed Madison Keys, a three-time WTA grass-court champion, and fourth seed Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon winner, who could face compatriot Yulia Putintseva in the second round. “This player list is yet further confirmation that spectators are in for a brilliant opening week of tennis,” said tournament director Laura Robson, a former British No. 1, highlighting the event’s star power.
Raducanu’s 2024 grass season offered glimpses of her potential, with a semifinal run in Nottingham, a quarterfinal in Eastbourne, and a fourth-round appearance at Wimbledon, where she notched her first career top-10 win over Jessica Pegula and defeated world No. 9 Maria Sakkari. Yet, her recent second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open underscored ongoing challenges, as noted by tennis legend John McEnroe. “Finding the right team seems to be an ongoing issue,” McEnroe remarked, emphasizing the need for Raducanu to surround herself with the right support to compete consistently at the highest level. “I certainly wish her the best. Anyone that’s won a Slam, you want to see them continue to compete at a high level.” Raducanu, who has never played at Queen’s due to its long absence from the WTA calendar, is determined to capitalize on her wildcard entry and build confidence ahead of Wimbledon, where she made her breakthrough in 2021.
The HSBC Championships, running from June 9 to June 15, feature a 28-player singles draw, with 10 of the top 20 WTA players, including six Grand Slam champions. Notable first-round matchups include two-time Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova, returning from maternity leave, against Beatriz Haddad Maia, and British No. 1 Katie Boulter facing a qualifier. Boulter and Raducanu are also teaming up in doubles, drawn against Fang-Hsien Wu and Xinyu Jiang, with a potential all-British clash against Kartal and Burrage in the second round. The absence of Naomi Osaka and Jessica Pegula, who withdrew from the event, has shifted the spotlight to emerging stars like Raducanu, who aims to seize this opportunity to shine on home soil.
As Raducanu prepares for her opening match, the tennis world is abuzz with anticipation for her potential clash with Krejcikova, whose experience and grass-court prowess make her a formidable opponent. “I want to bring that same level to the grass again this summer,” Krejcikova said, reflecting on her Wimbledon triumph. For Raducanu, a deep run at Queen’s could propel her back into the top echelons of the WTA rankings and set the tone for a pivotal Wimbledon campaign. With a packed grass-court schedule that includes Berlin and Eastbourne, the British star is poised to make waves, but first, she must navigate a treacherous draw that tests her resilience and skill from the outset.
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