Raducanu and Boulter Shine in Historic Queen’s Club Doubles Match

London, England – Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter lit up the historic Queen's Club on Monday, claiming a decisive 6-4, 6-2 victory in their doubles opener against China’s Jiang Xinyu and Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien. This match was notable as it marked the return of women’s tennis to Queen’s Club for the first time since 1973.

As they prepared to step onto the intimate Court One, spectators lined up in hopes of witnessing the British duo, affectionately nicknamed ‘Boultercanu’ by the press. Despite the lengthy queue, many fans were determined to catch a glimpse of the two stars.

Raducanu expressed her nerves before the match, admitting she felt a different type of anxiety compared to singles play. “Katie made me feel so comfortable, and I’m just so pleased to get a win on the board,” she said during the press conference. Boulter, however, added a touch of humor, joking, “Scrap what she said; we’re going for the Wimbledon title!”

The atmosphere was electric as the pair played with infectious chemistry, sharing jokes and high fives. Raducanu noted, “I love playing on those smaller, outside courts where you really feel the support and the crowd gets into it.”

Unfortunately, the match was played in front of 1,000 spectators rather than the larger Andy Murray Arena, which can hold 7,700. Some fans expressed disappointment at the limited access to the match, especially those who had bought tickets expecting to see it in the main venue.

As spectators experienced novel changes this year, including the absence of line judges and new color-coded stickers for seating, one fan criticized the decision to hold women’s matches on a smaller court. “I think it is very annoying,” said Helen Milliner, who waited outside Court One. “I booked tickets for the Andy Murray Arena months ago, hoping to see Radders and Katie on there. I was told it would take an hour to get in.”

The day’s events also included a stellar performance by British player Sonay Kartal, who upset 16th ranked Daria Kasatkina in her singles match, causing further stir among fans. Kartal praised the support she received, saying, “It was a super special moment.”

Looking ahead, both Raducanu and Boulter will return to singles action on Tuesday at the Andy Murray Arena, with Boulter facing Ajla Tomljanovic and Raducanu going up against Cristina Bucsa. This match will circulate excitement as fans anticipate their progress in the tournament.