Raducanu proves grass is greener in stroll at Queen's

As starts to the British summer go, it doesn’t get much better than an hour in-and-out under the west London sun.

- KIERAN JACKSON AT QUEEN'S CLUB

Refreshed and rejuvenated after a two-week break following the French Open and a thrashing at the hands of Iga Swiatek Emma Raducanu has all her sights set on a prosperous month with the pristine grass under her feet. And here at Queen’s Club, sporting a claret outfit, she did not let slip a purple patch on court.

Will there be bigger tests than world No 112 Cristina Bucsa? Of course. A fortuitous draw still needs capitalising on, though, and Raducanu excelled and looked supremely at home in a 6-1 6-2 demolition job. Yet, most strikingly of all, in a year which included a horrendous stalking ordeal, was how much she seemed to enjoy the limelight once again.

“I must say I was quite locked in today,” Raducanu said on court afterwards. “I’m still trying to find my groove on this surface. I actually lost to Cristina earlier in the year, so I was really trying to fight and get into the second round.

“It’s incredibly special [to play at Queen’s]. For us girls to have the tournament here finally, after watching the TV and the men play, is really nice.”