British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

PaulM · Tennis legend

Week 23 - WTA500 - HSBC Championships, Queens, London

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

What a super second set of tennis from both

PaulM · Tennis legend

Ah that's a shame, Emma loses 6-0 7-6(6).

Incredible standard for most of it, was going to need a bit of magic or luck to take it and Vekic played phenomenal shots at 5-5 and 6-6 in the breaker. Hit so many lines.

Vekic was gassed, I'm certain if Emma had got that second set she'd have won, but a brilliant week and she should hopefully feel like some corners have been turned after so many tough times. Vekic I've always had a soft spot for, can't begrudge her this moment.

Var · Challenger qualifying

Will that be enough to get a seeding at Wimbledon?

-- Edited by Var on Sunday 14th of June 2026 03:16:13 PM

wales1994 · Pro player

Gutted but wow, Vekic was playing some of the best tennis Ive seen on the WTA. So many lines hit and very few errors for someone with her aggressive style.

Great week regardless for Raducanu and hopefully the start of an upward belief.

Jan · Hall of fame

Was following scores while out
Disappointed, yes, but I think at the beginning of the week we (and Emma) would gladly have taken getting to the final.
Would love to think Emma can keep up this standard of play and stay fit and well

Lambda · Grand Slam Champion

Really pleased Vekic won. Someone i always root for in the grass season.

the addict · Tennis legend

For the record

F:- Emma Raducanu (GBR) WR42 lost to Donna Vekic (CRO) WR76 [LL] 0-6 (6)6-7

Impressive performance from Vekic, especially in the first set. Playing like the top 20 player she was last year.

Jan · Hall of fame

Ooh and the doubles is on the BBC website!!!

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Nice words from Donna for David Felgate, another high-flyer GB coach:

Donna Vekic also thanked her coach, David Felgate: "I have to say thanks to my coach David. We have worked together since I have been 12 years old. You raised me, without you I wouldn't even know what grass is.

"When I called you two weeks ago to ask you to help me with this grass court season you said yes and thank you so much, without you I wouldn't be here with this trophy."

Neil Gee · County player

Coup Droit wrote:
Nice words from Donna for David Felgate, another high-flyer GB coach:

Donna Vekic also thanked her coach, David Felgate: "I have to say thanks to my coach David. We have worked together since I have been 12 years old. You raised me, without you I wouldn't even know what grass is.

"When I called you two weeks ago to ask you to help me with this grass court season you said yes and thank you so much, without you I wouldn't be here with this trophy."

So a Brit wins either way, which is some consolation.

I thought if Emma could have taken it to a third set the championship was there for the taking because Vekic looked done in, tennis at this level comes down to such fine margins.

B00thy · County player

A fabulous match and top quality all the way through .. yes the first set was a bagel but Emma played well but Donna was top drawer.

I felt that Emma was finally getting used to Donna's power about game 5 and while she didn't register a game, she could at least start the second set having an idea of how to handle her a bit better.

This in marked contrast to every other match (bar the Sabalanka one at Wimbledon) when she's been up against power. Either or both of AR and GB perhaps? I hope she takes a lot from this performance for future matches against hard hitters

The second set could have gone either way, and like others have said, I felt that a third set would have gone Emma's way. Hey, it didn't

I think she needed to have started the match with a plan B e.g. a heavy slice would have reduced opportunities for yet another thumping forehand.

My favourite Emma match for years smile

PaulM · Tennis legend

Well done Liv and Tereza!!

Jan · Hall of fame

Great doubles match!!!! A British winner!!

Peter too · Tennis legend

My feeling, which may be entirely wrong, is that Emma received the wrong advice when she was serving for the set at 5-2 up. She was advised to hit down the middle but that allowed Vekic to get a clean shot and once again started overpowering Emma. Emma had reached 5-2 by making Vekic run by hitting to the corners and sidelines. Vekic tried to swing at the ball and did achieve a number of magical shots but also hit a larger number of errors. I felt the way to beat Vekic is to stop her getting an easy swing at the ball because then her power wins out.