Annabel Croft
Former British number one on BBC TV

That was the perfect time to play the drop shot. She had such control over the racquet face. Unplayable.

A huge grin appears on Emma Raducanu's face after she makes a wonderful sliced drop shot, to the delight of the crowd on Andy Murray Arena.

She's enjoying herself here, that's for sure.

It's a double break for Emma Raducanu!

This could not have started much more differently to the previous meeting between these two, when Sorana Cirstea thrashed Emma Raducanu in Romania.

The world number 18 has not got going at all yet - and Raducanu is taking full advantage.

Image source, Getty Images

Sorana Cirstea is makes a forehand down the line to get up and running on serve, but misses the next to give Emma Raducanu a foothold.

The errors continue for the Romanian, and Raducanu will have two more break points!

Sorana Cirstea lands a cross-court forehand perfectly on the line to reach 30-30 on Emma Raducanu's serve as she seeks an immediate response here.

But Raducanu gets plenty of power behind a first serve, and she consolidates her advantage as Cirstea nets an attempted drop shot.

A stunning return from Emma Raducanu!

A first break point for the home favourite, and it's hers as Sorana Cirstea nets. That's an excellent start.

So, the winner of this one will have to come back out for their quarter-final later today. Both players would, therefore, ideally like to get the job done as quickly as possible.

Emma Raducanu is fast out the starting blocks as she takes the first couple of points on Sorana Cirstea's serve - but the Romanian recovers to 30-30 with a huge forehand.

Image source, Getty Images

Emma Raducanu defeated Anna Blinkova in the first round at Queen's, producing an encouraging straight-set victory to record her first match-win since Indian Wells in March.

Today, the Briton is aiming to beat a top-20 ranked opponent for the first time since defeating Daria Kasatkina at Strasbourg just over a year ago.

She's up against Romanian debutant Sorana Cirstea, the world number 18 who thrashed Raducanu on the hard court at the Transylvania Open in February to win her fourth WTA singles title.

Raducanu, whose sole success remains her remarkable 2021 US Open triumph, has not won back-to-back matches since that tournament four months ago in a season disrupted by illness.

Sadly, after a brilliant opening win, Serena Williams' comeback in the doubles at Queen's ended when partner Victoria Mboko suffered an injury contesting her singles match the next day.

However, American great Williams has stuck around and spectators were able to catch a glimpse of the 23-time major winner practising on the grass this morning.

Image source, Getty Images

A short while ago, Katie Boulter secured her place in the Queen's quarter-finals.

The Briton took just 67 minutes to complete a dominant 6-1 6-3 victory over Romanian Jaqueline Cristian, who is ranked 38th in the world.

After that impressive win, Boulter will face top seed Elena Rybakina in the last eight later today, after she came from behind to beat defending champion Tatjana Maria 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-0.

Image source, Getty Images

After a miserable Thursday which saw play eventually cancelled yesterday evening, the rain has stayed away so far today and play has been able to go ahead since this morning.

Emma Raducanu managed just four minutes of warming up on Andy Murray Arena before she and opponent Sorana Cirstea had to go back inside as the rain swiftly returned.

But the former US Open champion is back on court for that match next.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Murray Arena (from 11:00 BST)

Elena Rybakina v Tatjana Maria

Sorana Cirstea v Emma Raducanu

Iva Jovic v Amanda Anisimova

Court 1

Jaqueline Cristian v Katie Boulter

Harriet Dart v Kamilla Rakhimova

Iva Jovic/McCartney Kessler v Gabriela Dabrowski/Luisa Stefani

Serena Williams' doubles campaign at Queen's has been curtailed as her playing partner Victoria Mboko has withdrawn with a left knee injury.

The 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, 44, made her return to tennis on Tuesday after almost four years away from the sport.

The pair had been scheduled to play their quarter-final on Thursday but Mboko, 19, suffered a nasty fall in her singles match on Wednesday, which forced her to retire from the match.

Trailing 6-2 3-4 against Karolina Pliskova, the Canadian teenager cried out in pain as she went down clutching her knee and she limped off the court in tears.

It means her compatriot Leylah Fernandez and Germany's Laura Siegemund, who they were scheduled to face in the doubles on Thursday evening, advance to the semi-finals.

Image source, Getty Images

Friday, 12 June

11:00-19:30 - BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app (13:00-18:00 - BBC Two)

Saturday, 13 June

13:30-19:30 - BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app (13:25-17:20 - BBC One)

Sunday, 14 June (Final)

13:00-19:30 - BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport website & app (13:15-15:45 - BBC One)