LONDON — British tennis star Katie Boulter enjoyed a stellar day at the cinch Championships at Queen’s Club, securing victories in both singles and doubles, but her post-match comments revealed a lighthearted concern about her partnership with Emma Raducanu.
Boulter, the British No. 1, teamed up with Raducanu for the first time in doubles, marking a highly anticipated collaboration between two of the nation’s top players. The pair defeated the experienced duo of Diane Parry and Xinyu Wang in straight sets (6-4, 6-4), showcasing their chemistry on court. However, Boulter joked afterward, "I hope Emma is still talking to me after today—she had to cover a lot of ground!"
A Winning Start for Boulter
Earlier in the day, Boulter had already made her mark in singles, defeating Italy’s Martina Trevisan 6-3, 6-4 to advance to the second round. The 27-year-old displayed her trademark aggressive baseline game, firing 28 winners past her opponent. "It’s always special to win at Queen’s," Boulter said. "The crowd here gives me so much energy."
Her performance was particularly impressive given the pressure of being the home favorite. Boulter, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 27 earlier this year, has been a consistent force on grass, a surface that suits her powerful game. "I feel like I’m playing some of my best tennis right now," she added.
Doubles Debut with Raducanu
The doubles match, however, was the highlight of the day for British fans. Boulter and Raducanu, both Grand Slam-caliber players, had never partnered before, but their complementary styles—Boulter’s power and Raducanu’s precision—proved effective. "It was a lot of fun," Raducanu said. "Katie brings so much intensity, and we just clicked."
Despite the win, Boulter humorously admitted that Raducanu had to do much of the running. "I might have let her down a few times with my positioning," she laughed. "But she’s such a great athlete—she covered for me!"
Key Moments from the Match
The match wasn’t without its challenges. The British duo faced break points early in the first set but held their nerve, with Raducanu’s clutch serving and Boulter’s net play proving decisive. Highlights included:
- A stunning cross-court winner from Boulter to seal the first set
- Raducanu’s delicate drop volley to break serve in the second set
- A perfectly executed lob from Boulter to set up match point
Boulter praised Raducanu’s adaptability, saying, "She’s so smart on court. Even when we were under pressure, she found a way to turn things around."
Looking Ahead
Boulter’s next singles match will be against either Jelena Ostapenko or a qualifier, while the doubles pair will face the winner of the match between top seeds Elise Mertens/Hsieh Su-wei and another British duo, Heather Watson/Yuriko Miyazaki. "We’ll take it one match at a time," Boulter said. "But if we keep playing like this, who knows?"
Raducanu, who is still rebuilding her ranking after injury setbacks, seemed optimistic about their partnership. "It’s great to be back on court with someone like Katie," she said. "We’ll see how far we can go."
Conclusion
For Boulter, the day was a resounding success—both individually and alongside Raducanu. Her lighthearted remark about hoping Raducanu would "still talk to her" underscored the camaraderie between the two, a promising sign for British tennis fans. With Wimbledon just weeks away, Boulter’s form on grass is a timely boost, while her partnership with Raducanu adds an exciting new dynamic to the doubles scene.
As Boulter put it, "Days like this remind me why I love this sport. Winning with a friend? That’s just the cherry on top."