Emma Raducanu won the first match of a double-up day at Queen’s on Friday, with the Briton springing to life for a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Sorana Cirstea.

The 36-year-old Romanian who won the hearts of French fans at Roland Garros as she ran to the quarter-finals as she plays: out her farewell season.

Raducanu had no sympathy as she avenged a February finals loss at the Transylvanian Open to the No. 18.

The Briton ranked 42nd is due on court later to play out a quarter-final which was delayed a day by a week of rainy London weather.

 “It feels incredible to come out and play how I did today against Sorana,” the winner said. “She’s been in incredible form this year and had some amazing wins. 

“Earlier in the year she beat me but I’m really glad I could get her back at home as well.”

Raducanu added: “I played at a really high level, I knew I had to go out and play aggressively and dictate. As soon as I took my foot off the gas a little bit she was coming back.

“I have another match to come later, so I hope you guys can stick around!

“Thanks so much to everyone who stuck around yesterday, I really wanted to show some good tennis to make up for yesterday’s rain delays.”

Katie Boulter put a second local into the last eight with her 6-1, 6-3 defeat of another Romanian in Jacqueline Cristian

WTA No. 2 Elena Rybakina accounted for German defending champion Tatjana Maria 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-0 comeback effort in west London.

Main photo:- Emma Raducanu celebrates – by Mark Greenwood/ISF Ltd

The comeback dream of Serena Williams was handed a fatal blow with teenaged partner Victoria Mboko pulling up lame after a fall in singles which forced her retirement.

The Canadian went down with a knee injury, which rules her out as the Wimbledon run-up tightens. 

The doubles flop left the 44-year-old out of commission this week in a rain-hit Queen’s club.

The veteran who played her previous last Tour match in 2022, is now only able to look forward to another doubles go next week in Berlin, reportedly alongside Czech Karolina Muchova..

Williams was “retired” during the period in which the London club venue was added to the WTA calendar, 

She and Mboko won their opening doubles match on Tuesday but were unable to progress further due to the circumstances.

 The Williams pairing was to have played Canadian Leylah Fernandez and German Laura Siegemund in the second round with the Canadian/German team reaching the semi-finals, 

Mother of two Williams, winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles, has hinted all week that she is not considering a run in singles.

“Every tournament I add to my schedule right now feels special, and Berlin is no exception,” she said.

“I’m excited to compete in front of the German fans and continue building momentum throughout the grass-court season.”

Wimbledon doubles also remains a question mark: “It’s just a day at a time. I still have a little time to decide, and they have been great about giving me that space and time to ⁠decide.”

Main photo:- Serena Williams in action in the first round at Queens – by Mark Greenwood/ISF Ltd

Serena Williams began her doubles comeback on a high note as the 44-year-old and teenaged partner Victoria Mboko reached the second round at Queen’s Club on Tuesday.

The one-off combination defeated Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Erin Routliffe 7-6 (2) 6-2 in a stunning display by the 23-time Grand Slam singles winner Williams who had not played a professional match for almost four years.

The veteran never announced a retirement at the time, instead drifting into the millionaire celebrity lifestyle of fashion shows, sponsor appearances and VIP invitations.

Williams was watched at Queen’s by her two daughters 1,375 days after her last Tour match, a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic at the US Open.

 Williams delivered an ace to set up a pair of match points.

The ad hoc Williams-Mboko pairing broke three times in the 92-minute victory  while dropping serve only once.

 “It was so fun. I had so much fun playing with Victoria. She was really able to hold up the team and play big on the big points. I could rely on her. We have never played together but it felt so natural.

“I don’t know. I had nothing better to do, I got tired of sitting at home. My kids are out of school for the summer, so why not?

“I never got to play here, it was always just the men. It feels really special to play somewhere so iconic.”

As she made the decision for a doubles return, Williams – pledging all to secrecy – flew in a hitting partner, with the 19-year-old Mboko coming aboard only three weeks ago.

Main photo:- Serena Williams smashes – by Mark Greenwood/International Sports Fotos Ltd