'She’s a very difficult opponent for anyone': former British No. 1 on Emma Raducanu’s grass court form

Emma Raducanu has hit the ground running this grass court season, and former British No. 1 Anne Keothavong likes what she sees.

"What we've seen from Emma this week already is someone who's looking sharp, someone who's moving well on a grass court," Keothavong said.

One key factor Keothavong highlights is Raducanu’s ability to immediately access grass practice after the clay season wrapped up in Paris: "I think that’s always the challenge for all players after a busy period during the clay court season - making the transition from clay to grass isn’t easy for most. But, as a British player, there are benefits. We’ve got plenty of grass courts here, particularly around Southwest London.".

Keothavong added by saying: "In terms of court time, she was able to get on the grass as soon as she got back from Paris. She enjoys playing on grass - I think it suits her game. She’s a great athlete. When you put her on a grass court, she stays low to the ground, absorbs pace well, and generates pace herself. If she continues to serve as well as she’s doing, then she’s a very difficult opponent for anyone - especially in front of a home crowd.”.

Raducanu’s performances so far at the prestigious Queen’s Club Championships underline that expert insight. In the first round, she cruised past Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-2, demonstrating both power and precision. She dominated baseline rallies, mixing aggressive groundstrokes with sharp angles, and showcased crisp serving that kept her opponent off balance.

Her Round of 16 match against Rebecca Sramkova further reinforced her growing confidence on grass. Raducanu took the match in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1, showing improved consistency and tactical awareness. She controlled the tempo throughout, frequently dictating play with her serve and confidently stepping inside the court to finish points quickly.

With a few more wins in grass tournaments like Queen’s, Raducanu could significantly improve her ranking and secure a seeded position for Wimbledon. This would ease her path through the draw, offering some protection from facing top-ranked players early on, which is crucial at a Grand Slam on such a tricky surface.

Using the support of the home crowd and a game evolving to meet the challenges of the surface, Raducanu is shaping up to be a serious contender this summer. Fans and pundits alike will be watching closely to see if she can translate this promising form into a deep run at Wimbledon.