Emma Raducanu opened grass season at Queen's, beating Anna Blinkova in straight sets despite rain. After a 3-0 lead, rain paused play but didn't break her flow. She sealed the first set 6-0 in just 20 minutes, dominating 25 of the 31 points, hitting 11 winners and committing only two unforced errors. The win marks her first match since a first‑round loss at Roland Garros.

Playing on Andy Murray Arena, Raducanu maintained pressure into the second set, earning an early break. Blinkova clawed back, exploiting a spate of double‑faults to level the set at 3‑3 with four consecutive service breaks. A lucky net cord gave Raducanu another break, allowing her to serve for the match and finish with a backhand winner on match point.

The decisive win erases doubts after two illness‑marred outings and restores confidence ahead of Wimbledon. Raducanu now awaits a second‑round clash with either Romania’s Sorana Cîrstea or Australia’s Maddison Inglis, a match that could solidify her resurgence on grass. Her performance signals a strong contender for the upcoming Grand Slam. She also proved her serve can dominate under pressure.