In a spirited doubles match at Queen’s, Emma Raducanu and her partner Katie Boulter faced off against top seeds Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok, ultimately falling short with a score of 6-2, 7-5. Although they were bested, Raducanu and Boulter maintained their positive spirits, showcasing camaraderie on and off the court.
Despite the high expectations surrounding their partnership, their match took place in front of a smaller crowd of 1,000 instead of the larger Andy Murray Arena, where many fans were eager to watch. This mismatch in venue highlights ongoing issues with broadcast space allocation for high-profile doubles matches in both the WTA and ATP tours.
Throughout the match, Routliffe and Kichenok demonstrated their impressive skills, with Routliffe, a former doubles No. 1 and 2023 US Open champion, asserting herself at the net and Kichenok effectively supporting from both the baseline and net. While Boulter and Raducanu initially struggled, they showcased resilience by fighting back to make the second set competitive.
Doubles matches can serve as valuable experiences for players, helping them hone their overall game in a lower-stress environment compared to singles. Though Raducanu has participated in doubles sparingly, this experience may prove beneficial as she prepares for her upcoming singles match against Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova after her earlier victory against Cristina Bucsa.
On another note, British player Sonay Kartal lost her match against Amanda Anisimova, but she previously achieved a remarkable win against world No. 16 Daria Kasatkina, which speaks to her potential growth.
Despite their defeat, the day was not without its positives. Raducanu and Boulter’s engaging performance and developing partnership lay a promising foundation for future competitions. Fans can hope to see them continue to build their skills and rapport as they aim for success in upcoming matches.