Emma Raducanu vs Qinwen Zheng live: Queen’s Club tennis scores as British No 1 knocked out
Raducanu was beaten 6-2 6-4 by the top seed and Olympic champion, who advances to the semi-finals
Emma Raducanu is out of Queen’s Club after falling to a 6-2 6-4 defeat to the Olympic champion and top seed Qinwen Zheng.
The new British No 1 squandered a double-break advantage in the second set as Zheng six of the final seven games to book her place in the semi-finals.
Raducanu received off-court treatment on her back after dropping the opening set and Zheng briefly struggled with her serve following the restart.
But the Chinese star regained her momentum after trailing 3-0 and then 4-1, and producing an impressive response to subdue Raducanu and advance.
Earlier, Madison Keys defeated Diana Shnaider in three sets and Tatjana Maria upset former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in two.
Emma Navarro faces Amanda Anisimova in an all-American clash to conclude the quarter-finals.
Follow all the tennis scores and latest action from Queen’s Club below.
Emma Raducanu taught key lesson by disruptive Qinwen Zheng in Queen’s defeat
Emma Raducanu came into Queen’s with low expectations, having struggled with recurring back spasms over the last few weeks. Adjusting from clay to grass, two wildly different surfaces, was going to be a further challenge.
In her first two matches neither of those appeared to trouble her: she looked imperious against Cristina Bucsa, an opponent who got the better of her in Singapore earlier this year, and said afterwards her back was “in good shape” for that match. She was on the front foot for three-quarters of her second-round encounter with Rebecca Sramkova, and motored through the closing stages.
But from playing the world No 112 in Bucsa and a similarly-ranked player in Sramkova, only four places below her, facing Zheng Qinwen was a significant step up. It proved a step too far, as the Olympic champion won 6-2, 6-4.
Emma Raducanu taught key lesson by disruptive Qinwen Zheng in Queen’s defeat
Qinwen Zheng: 'She has more experience than me'
Qinwen Zheng may be the World No 5, but this was just her fifth win on grass and she told the BBC that she was unsure what footwear to put on.
Zheng slipped a couple of times during the first set and changed her shoes mid-game before winning 6-2 6-4 against the British No 1.
“I played really good today,” she said. “It was really difficult, she's got more experience than me. I'm proud to be in my first semi-final on grass. I want to apologise for my shoes. I don't know how to run on grass!
"I still don't know when I have to change to grass shoes. I think now is the time because I feel much better to run.
"I have to keep my game more focused because I started really slow in the second set. Just happy to get the win.”
Qinwen Zheng celebrates
There was a defiant roar from Qinwen Zheng as she converted her fourth match point to advance to the semi-finals.
She will look to reach her first final of the season, and first final on grass of her career, when she plays either Navarro or Anisimova on Saturday.
Zheng def. Raducanu: Match stats
Qinwen Zheng 6-2 6-4 Emma Raducanu - 1hr, 49 mins
Aces: Zheng, 5 | Raducanu, 4
Double faults: Zheng, 4 | Raducanu, 7
1st serve in: Zheng, 55% | Raducanu, 65%
1st serve won: Zheng, 74% | Raducanu, 59%
2nd serve won: Zheng, 39% | Raducanu, 36%
Break points won: Zheng, 5/15 | Raducanu, 2/6
Total points won: Zheng, 72 | Raducanu, 61
What next for Raducanu?
Unless Raducanu decides to enter Nottingham, the British No 1 is likely to be next in action at the WTA 500 event in Berlin - which starts on Monday.
It’s the final chance to pick up rankings points and potentially nab a seeded spot for Wimbledon, which gets underway on Monday 30 June.
Conern for Raducanu after medical timeout
There was a worry for Raducanu after taking a medical timeout for treatment on her back after losing the first set.
However, she actually played some of her best tennis to jump into a 4-1 lead in the second set, and her movement was not too impacted.
Zheng regained the momentum behind her serve and ultimately showed her class as she won six of the final seven games to advance.
Zheng will play an American opponent in the semi-finals: either Emma Navarro or Amanda Anisimova, who play next.
Raducanu waves farewell to Queen's
Raducanu gathers her bags and heads off the court. A subdued exit but there have been some promising signs on the grass this week and she will look to build her rhythm further ahead of Wimbledon next month.
“Keep going” is the message the top seed and Olympic champion Zheng writes on the camera. She had to weather the storm to advance today but overcame a tough spot in the second set.
GAME, SET AND MATCH!
Raducanu sends the forehand long and Zheng advances! The top seed and Olympic champion lets out a huge roar!
Emma Raducanu 2-6 4-5 Zheng Qinwen
Raducanu saves all three match points! Is she about to do a Carlos Alcaraz?!
Zheng makes three errors in a row on the return!
But there will be a fourth match point: Raducanu leaves the drop shot short and Zheng thunders away the forehand.
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