Emma Raducanu produced another impressive victory as she beat Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-2 in the second round at Queen’s.
The British No 1 was greeted with huge cheers as she served out the match in front of a packed Andy Murray Arena for her second straight victory on grass.
The win is her first over a top-20 player in over a year and means she is set to face Kamilla Rakhimova in a quarter-final clash later today.
Raducanu recorded her first win over a top-20 player in over a year
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Both Tim Henman and Laura Robson believe Emma Raducanu reuniting with her former coach that helped her clinch the US Open, Andrew Richardson, is a good move.
Raducanu – who is enjoying a rich vein of form since reuniting with former coach Andrew Richardson – got off to a blistering start, forcing two breaks in the first three games with some ferocious forehands to take a commanding 4-0 lead, but the experienced Cirstea fought back, winning three games on the bounce to put pressure back on her opponent.
The 2021 US Open champion made costly unforced errors to allow the Romanian a chance at a third break at 4-5, but bounced back to win two straight points and serve out a hard-fought 50-minute first set.
She oozed confidence from then on, breaking in the first game of the second set – landing a glorious deep forehand return to seal the game – and a second break at 3-1 proved the nail in Cirstea’s coffin.
Raducanu is all smiles as she celebrates winning a point
“It feels incredible to have come out and play how I did today against Sorana,” Raducanu said to the BBC after the match.
“She’s a player who’s been in incredible form this year, had some amazing wins, reached a really high ranking.
“Earlier on in the year she beat me but I’m really glad that I could get her back at home as well.
“I think I played a really high level – I knew that I had to playing Sorana. I had to go out there and play aggressively and dictate, because if I didn’t, I knew she would.
“Straight from the get-go I put a really good game on the court and I’m really glad I can play another match here.”
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Tennis stars such as Emma Raducanu, Coco Gauff and Cameron Norrie took part in a fun World Cup warm‑up, each drawing a random national flag to decide which team they’ll be supporting.
Raducanu now faces the daunting task of winning a second match on the same day – but she is relishing the challenge in front of her home crowd.
“It’s not something that I’ve done too often, especially playing on such a big arena – it’s emotional!
“I just need to do the best I can to recover – but I’m really proud of the performance I just put in today.”
Boulter sets up Rybakina quarter-final clash with victory over Cristian
Boulter is through to her 15th WTA quarter final – and eighth on grass
British No 2 Katie Boulter made quick work of Jacqueline Cristian as she breezed past her opponent 6-1 6-3 to set up a blockbuster clash with No 1 seed Elena Rybakina.
Boulter looked in fine fettle in her first round match against Leylah Fernandez and picked up where she left off with another impressive victory, needing only an hour and seven minutes to beat the Romanian.
“I do love the grass,” said Boulter. “I have been here since I was a little girl and I love it here.
“It’s so great. I think, playing on the grass, I feel very comfortable and I think for me it’s about just committing to my shots.
“You can’t ease your way into it. You’re just going to have to commit and see what comes up.”
Boulter reaches her 15th career WTA quarter-final – eight of which have come on grass – and joins her compatriot Raducanu at the business end of the competition, but faces a tall task against former Wimbledon champion Rybakina later today.
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