Emma Raducanu is told she is currently dealing with the same problem Andy Murray did as she wins her Queen’s opener

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Emma Raducanu was looking to kick her Queen’s campaign off with a big win and did just that.

Having enjoyed a solid if not spectacular clay season, Raducanu was no doubt eager to return home on grass.

Playing the Queen’s WTA 500 event, Raducanu beat Cristina Bucsa in her opener, 6-1, 6-2.

She’ll now prepare for her second-round match against Rebecca Sramkova, who beat Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in round one.

Following Raducanu’s maiden win at the Queen’s Club Championships, a former British star noted that she’s currently dealing with the same problem as Andy Murray did during his playing days.

Annabel Croft says Emma Raducanu deals with the same pressure at Queen’s as Andy Murray

Speaking to BBC Sport after Raducanu’s win over Bucsa, Annabel Croft was asked whether she thought the Brit had produced a ‘flawless’ performance.

“I would agree. 10/10 to be honest, considering there would have been some early nerves,” she said.

“First match back here, a lot of pressure riding on her shoulders, the way there always was with Andy Murray when he played here.

“But she came out of the blocks so quickly, she was dominant, efficient, clinical.

“She never allowed her opponent any time on the ball, and everything was coming clean out of the middle of the racket. She was using her legs so well, her game is very well suited to the grass courts.

“That serve that she slides out wide on the deuce side and then sets it into the open space, there was so much to admire, I could keep going on about all of the good play she put out there today.”

Croft compared the pressure Raducanu faced to what Murray dealt with during his time at Queen’s, but how did the three-time Major champion perform at his home tournament?

Murray is the most successful player in Queen’s history, winning all five of his finals between 2009 and 2016.

He went on to add a sixth title to his collection in the doubles when he and Feliciano Lopez beat Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury in 2019.

Raducanu certainly has a long way to go if she wants to reach those heights, although if she continues to play as she did in the first round, she may well have half a chance.

“I think what was impressive was the way that she set the tone right from the start, she imposed her game on [Cristina] Bucsa, what we’ve seen over the last couple of days, is a lot of players feeling unsure about their footing,” said Croft.

“Quite the opposite with [Emma] Raducanu, she was dominant, great light footwork around the ball. Getting the ball out in front of her, using that slice backhand so efficiently.

“She was always staying so low on the ball, particularly with her forehand, that’s a side that has been very impressive on the clay, but on the grass, she was hitting it into the corners, getting her body weight behind it.

“Hitting it into the open space and not allowing her opponent, Bucsa, any time on the ball. Any time there were any question marks in that second set where Bucsa was bringing the level up, she was stamping back on her and just took her out of it. Of course, using the crowd.

“There wasn’t a lot that her opponent could do against her, when you’re in that kind of form, a purple patch almost, she just had complete control of the match.”

Croft believes Raducanu’s win was the best performance of the first round at Queen’s.

“I would say this was the most impressive performance of any of the players we’ve seen in this tournament so far. A lot of them have been hesitant; the movement hasn’t quite been where it needs to be,” she said.

“That will improve for all the players when they start to get their footing, having come off the clay courts in Paris. But for Raducanu, everything looked so smooth.

“The one thing you need to do on a grass court is bend your knees and stay low. She uses her legs so well. She was energised, just imposed her game and her character on her opponent today.

“I think she really enjoyed her time out there, she looked terrific.”

Annabel Croft gives her verdict on Emma Raducanu’s ‘unusual’ coaching setup

A lot has been made of Raducanu’s coaching situation over recent years, as the Brit continues to chop and change, in search of the perfect fit.

In 2025, she’s been working closely with Mark Petchey, although the 54-year-old hasn’t been able to commit full-time, due to his punditry work.

Working with former coach Nick Cavaday at Queen’s, Raducanu has started well, as Croft now shares her thoughts on the coaching setup.

“She’s clearly very happy with what the setup is. It’s an unusual setup,” said Croft.

“I think a lot of credit has to be given to Nick Cavaday, who’s come back into the team this week. He was the man who, when she came over from Paris, was the one she called upon to do the work on the grass ahead of this match.

“Someone she’s very familiar with, spent the last year with. He was the one who had to leave her team because he had some sort of health issue, so he couldn’t travel so much.

“There he was sitting courtside, so a lot of credit needs to be given to him as well.”

Raducanu will be hoping Cavaday can guide her to another win when she plays Sramkova in the second round on Thursday, June 12.