The new Emma Raducanu: positives to take from Queen's to Wimbledon

Emma Raducanu sat on her chair and looked forlorn. The British number one had finally succumbed to Croatia's Donna Vekic in a slow-burning Queen's final, unable to save a fifth Championship point and continue a match which she had admirably stoked into a scrap.

The 23-year-old has undoubtedly enjoyed a productive week at the quaint club nestled in the Victorian terraces of west London. However, missing out on a first WTA Tour title - and a first trophy since that unforgettable US Open victory in 2021 - still hurt.

"Right now it obviously really stings, so I'm just going to try and let myself feel it today - but try and get over it pretty quick," Raducanu said. With Wimbledon around the corner, BBC Sport looks at the positives Raducanu can take from her encouraging start to the grass-court season.

Raducanu loses Queen's final as trophy wait continues. When Raducanu dissected her French Open first-round exit just three weeks ago in Paris, things looked much bleaker. Skipping the entire clay-court season had been a viable option, considering she had only played four matches in the previous three months because of a viral illness and its after-effects.

However, Raducanu felt the hours spent on the clay courts - getting time in her legs - would pay dividends when she returned to Britain for the grass season. This week at Queen's, Raducanu has found what she is looking for - a sense of freedom and confidence on the grass courts.

Over the past seven days, Raducanu has reached the final without dropping a set, and while she ultimately came up short against Vekic, there was clear evidence of how the grass courts suit her. Firstly, Raducanu's movement on the surface is natural and confident - unlike many of her peers who are brought up playing on clay and hard courts.

Secondly, the ball's tendency to have a lower, skiddier bounce on grass means Raducanu's serve and groundstrokes have more punch.

"I think I'm playing pretty freely, pretty aggressively, but finding the right balance," she said. "I've been returning well, serving pretty well. It's important on grass."

Raducanu thankful for "incredible support" after Queen's final loss. Rehiring Richardson looks to have been a masterstroke. Under his tuition, Raducanu has played four tour-level tournaments - including the 2021 US Open and this year's Queen's - and won 14 of her 17 matches.

Richardson is an old-school coach who brings volume to create good habits - basically, hitting plenty of balls and putting in the hard yards. Known as a 'gentle giant', Raducanu says Richardson also has a fiery side that ignites the competitive spark in her.

The momentum she has generated in west London is a huge step in the right direction with Wimbledon, which starts in two weeks, fast approaching. Since becoming a Grand Slam champion as a teenage qualifier, Raducanu has reached the second week of a major on just one other occasion - at Wimbledon two years ago.