Donna Vekic fends off Emma Raducanu in Queen's final to win first title since 2023

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vekic-donna/AsWv5414/"]Vekic[/a] took the first set in dominant fashion before holding her nerve in a tense second-set tie-break.[/p][p]The fifth title of Vekic's career was [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/raducanu-e-YmIZde1B/vekic-d-AsWv5414/?mid=h28OOMJl"]a long-awaited triumph for the world number 76[/a], who got her hands on a trophy for the first time since the 2023 Monterrey Open.[/p][p]The 29-year-old was only able to compete in the grass-court event in west London as a 'lucky loser' after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kostyuk-marta/8CZqQdSa/"]Marta Kostyuk[/a] pulled out injured on the eve of the tournament.[/p][p]Struggling with illness, Vekic had lost to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/blinkova-anna/f1PZMn7P/"]Anna Blinkova[/a] in Queen's qualifying, but Kostyuk's exit allowed her to make the most of an unexpected second chance.[/p][embed guid="41714b1d-fd6a-47ee-b8f7-b5cd39e47449" url="https://x.com/WTA/status/2066172588250800632" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 29-year-old has pedigree on grass after reaching the 2024 Wimbledon semi-finals and winning the Nottingham Open in 2017.[/p][p]Playing in her first final since the Paris Olympics two years ago, when she lost the gold medal match to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zheng-qinwen/xCyEhjAS/"]Zheng Qinwen[/a], Vekic had to dig deep to subdue British number one [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/raducanu-emma/YmIZde1B/"]Raducanu[/a] in a rollercoaster second set.[/p][p]The Croatian trailed 5-2 and wasted four match points before finally delivering the knockout blow.[/p][p]"[b]This is really my favourite time of the year, my favourite surface. I love the grass. I've really enjoyed myself this week[/b]," Vekic said.[/p][p]"[b]Winning 6-0 is sometimes a curse in tennis. Emma rally stepped up and played some amazing tennis. I just tried to stay with her, make her play it out, stay with every single ball[/b].[/p][p]"[b]Her last service game and the tie-break is a bit of a blur right now, but I'm really happy I managed to win[/b]."[/p][image alt="Vekic after her victory" id="52db5002-d574-418f-a461-df253ff0ed88" credit-line="Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge" guid="785e3713-65cc-417f-9112-67408ffa89aa" original-width="2496" original-height="1673" /][p]Praising David Felgate -- Vekic's coach for the grass-court campaign this year -- the Croatian added: "[b]We have worked together since I have been 12 years old. You raised me, without you I wouldn't even know what grass is[/b].[/p][p]"[b]When I called you two weeks ago to ask you to help me you said yes. Thank you so much, without you I wouldn't be here with this trophy[/b]."[/p][h2]Raducanu wilts on home turf[/h2][p]It was another final disappointment for Raducanu in 2026 after she lost to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cirstea-sorana/fBPsm3Iq/"]Sorana Cirstea[/a] in the Transylvania Open showpiece in February.[/p][p]Raducanu was hoping to win her first title since her stunning US Open victory as a teenage qualifier in 2021.[/p][embed guid="1709a6a7-0814-4ef6-baec-e873ba444d8d" url="https://x.com/QueensTennis/status/2066177004425121841" social-type="twitter" /][p]The 23-year-old's bid for the second trophy of her career fell at the final hurdle.[/p][p]But Raducanu has been revitalised since rehiring Andrew Richardson, who coached her to that historic title in New York five years ago.[/p][p]The world number 42 had been hampered by fitness issues for several years and arrived at Queen's with only one win in her previous seven matches after battling a viral illness.[/p][p]Raducanu will head to Wimbledon, which starts on June 29th, with renewed belief.[/p][image alt="Raducanu with her runners-up trophy" id="d31b793b-a46b-4771-950a-dbd75583c092" credit-line="Action Images via Reuters / Andrew Couldridge" guid="b0d1ed2a-05e5-4351-972d-ef2a6197a1a5" original-width="5106" original-height="3400" /][p]"[b]It's been an incredible week for me, making the final here, playing in my home city, in my home tournament[/b]," Raducanu said.[/p][p]"[b]Today was a really tough match. Donna played extremely well from the start to the finish[/b]."[/p]