In a dazzling display of power and poise, China’s Olympic champion Qinwen Zheng powered past Britain’s Emma Raducanu 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Queen’s Club Championships on June 13, securing her first-ever grass-court semifinal. The World No. 5, who has surged to prominence since her gold-medal win at the 2024 Paris Olympics, faced a partisan crowd at Andy Murray Arena but silenced doubters with blistering groundstrokes and five aces in a match that lasted one hour and 50 minutes. Reflecting on her journey, Zheng shared a heartfelt sentiment in her post-match interview: “It feels good. I remember the first year when I played on tour, no one supported me. Now I get a lot of support and I can use this energy to play better tennis. I’m a lucky girl.”
Zheng’s victory over Raducanu, the newly crowned British No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion, marked a significant milestone. The 22-year-old Chinese star, still adapting to grass after a first-round exit at Wimbledon 2024, showcased her growth on the surface. “I played really good today. It was really difficult, she’s got more experience than me on grass,” Zheng told reporters, acknowledging Raducanu’s three grass-court quarterfinals in the past year. The match began competitively, with Raducanu defending three break points to hold at 2-2. However, Zheng’s relentless baseline game, punctuated by a backhand winner down the line, broke through for a 4-2 lead. Despite slipping on set point, she clinched the first set, even as the crowd voiced displeasure over her mid-game shoe change—a move that prompted her to quip, “I want to apologise for my shoes. I don’t know how to run on grass!”
Raducanu, battling recurring back spasms, took a medical timeout after the first set, returning with renewed vigor to surge to a 3-0 double-break lead in the second. “I have been managing it pretty well over the last few weeks, but I have played five matches now,” Raducanu said, noting the physical toll of her singles and doubles matches alongside Katie Boulter. Yet, Zheng’s resilience shone through. She leveled the set at 4-4, capitalizing on Raducanu’s seven double faults, including one that handed her three match points. Though Raducanu saved those, Zheng sealed the win on her fourth attempt with a thunderous forehand. “I think I have a lot of work to do, to be honest,” Raducanu admitted, praising Zheng’s serve for neutralizing her return game, one of her strengths.
Zheng’s path to the semifinals wasn’t without challenges. Her second-round match against American McCartney Kessler required three sets (6-4, 4-6, 7-5), testing her grass-court adaptability. “I still don’t know when I have to change to grass shoes. I think now is the time because I feel much better to run,” she said, her candor endearing her to fans. Her performance against Raducanu, where she landed 56% of first serves and won 74% of those points, signaled her growing comfort on the surface. Posts on X captured the excitement, with fans marveling at her ability to “choose violence” against a home favorite, highlighting her fearless approach.
The victory underscores Zheng’s remarkable 2025 season, with six quarterfinals in her last seven events, including Rome and Roland Garros, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka. Her rise from a relatively unsupported rookie to a global star reflects her mental fortitude. “The crowd was very British. But you have a lot of Chinese fans as well,” a reporter noted, to which Zheng responded with gratitude for her growing fanbase. Next, she faces Amanda Anisimova, who defeated Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-3, in the semifinals, with the other matchup pitting Tatjana Maria against Madison Keys. As Wimbledon looms on June 30, Zheng’s newfound confidence on grass positions her as a contender, proving she’s no longer the overlooked underdog but a force embracing her moment in the spotlight.
Leave a Reply