Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu made a strong impression as they kicked off their grass-court season with a decisive victory in their first doubles match together. The duo triumphed over China’s Xinyu Jiang and Taiwan’s Fang-Hsien Wu, winning 6-4, 6-2 on Court One, captivating the fans who had queued for the chance to see them play.
The partnership between Boulter and Raducanu has been a long time coming, with discussions about teaming up dating back to early practice sessions on clay. Boulter, the current British No. 1 with significant doubles experience, including recent matches with Daria Kasatkina and Jodie Burrage, spoke about the mutual decision to team up, which seems to have paid off in this match.
Raducanu, who has faced challenges due to back spasms, noted that the quick transition from clay to grass was motivating her to gain match experience. She had not played doubles extensively before, with only one previous outing in Washington in 2022, making this victory a promising start for her in this format. Both players adopted a strong strategy, combining Boulter’s baseline power with Raducanu’s agility at the net to disrupt their opponents.
The match highlighted the competitive spirit as well, as both athletes are vying for the British No. 1 spot. Boulter currently holds the edge at world No. 34, while Raducanu follows closely behind, and their performance at Queen’s could significantly affect their rankings leading into Wimbledon.
After the match, both players expressed their joy and comfort in playing alongside one another, with Raducanu admitting to feeling more nervous in doubles than in singles. Their camaraderie and competitive spirit sets an encouraging tone for the upcoming challenges of the grass season. As Boulter jokingly noted about their Wimbledon aspirations, their partnership could potentially lead to more successes in the future.
They may not have concrete plans beyond this tournament, but both players are looking forward to what lies ahead, creating a bond that could just be the starting point of a promising collaboration on the court.