Emma Raducanu stirred controversy during her Queen’s Club Championships quarter-final against top seed Qinwen Zheng on June 13, 2025, by hitting a practice serve while Zheng paused play, prompting boos from the crowd and a debate over tennis etiquette. With Zheng leading 3-2 in the first set and holding a break point on Raducanu’s serve, the Chinese player halted the match to change her shoes, leaving Raducanu waiting over a minute. Raducanu, seeking to stay sharp, fired a serve down the court before Zheng returned to the baseline, an action BBC commentator Annabel Croft noted was against protocol, stating, “She’s just practiced a serve and normally you’re not meant to do that!” per Express. USTA rules specify warm-up serves should occur before the match’s first serve, though umpires have some discretion, per Express.
The crowd, frustrated by Zheng’s delay, booed, and Raducanu raised a hand in apology before refocusing to win a crucial deuce battle and the set 6-2, per Express. Further interruptions followed, including Zheng’s racquet shock absorber issues and a third pause for equipment, which drew more crowd unrest, per Express. Despite a 4-1 lead in the second set, Raducanu, who took a medical timeout for back treatment, faltered as Zheng rallied to win 6-2, 6-4, per Independent. Posts on X, like @DRodenbyTennis, criticized the umpire’s handling of Zheng’s shoe change, arguing it should occur at a changeover, per @DRodenbyTennis.
Raducanu’s breach, though minor, highlighted her competitive edge but cost her momentum against a resurgent Zheng, who advanced to face an American opponent in the semi-finals, per Independent. Raducanu’s grass-court form, with straight-set wins over Cristina Bucsa and Rebecca Sramkova, remains promising for Wimbledon (June 30-July 13), per LTA.
