Raducanu and Boulter double act makes winning start at Queen’s

Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter’s double act got off to the perfect start as the pair opened their grass-court swing with a feel-good victory at Queens.

How shall we christen this new British pairing? “R&B”? “Boultercanu” has a bit of a ring to it. The pair’s minimal experience together barely told as they dismantled the Chinese-Taiwanese pairing of Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu with relative ease.

Whether it was Boulter’s ball-striking from the baseline or Raducanu’s alertness and snipe at the net, both players looked like they were enjoying easing their way into the grass-court swing. On a day when the Queen’s Club welcomed women back for the first time in 52 years, their 6-4, 6-2 win had something of a ceremonial feel.

A Boultercanu win 😍🫶#HSBCChampionshipspic.twitter.com/zFiuWO4504— LTA (@the_LTA) June 9, 2025

What a pity their accomplished performance on Court One in front of a 1,000-strong crowd was not able to be shown on the BBC, with the broadcaster choosing to prioritise action from the newly named Andy Murray Arena between Sonay Kartal and Daria Kasatkina, and failing to show the doubles match at all on BBC iPlayer.

Even though the ever-improving Kartal, the British No 3, came through a 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 tussle with the Australian, it was something of a missed opportunity when you consider this British partnership packed something of a punch over seasoned protagonists on the doubles scene.

Boulter and Raducanu were empowered by the more intimate surroundings of a smaller court. After breaking the Asian pair at the first opportunity, their energy never dipped and they closed out a comfortable second set. Both of these players have a tendency to bring their best on grass and they will be encouraged by the way they overpowered Wu and Jiang with solid games on serve.

Even Raducanu, who was flanked by a security guard during her early afternoon practice session, a day after revealing she felt “wary” following her stalking incident at the Dubai Open earlier this year, looked totally at ease. This was only the second doubles appearance of her professional career – and first since teaming up with Denmark’s Clara Tauson at the Citi Open in 2022. Afterwards, Boulter made a show of congratulating her compatriot on her maiden doubles win.

“I was actually very nervous before the match,” revealed Raducanu. “I don’t know if Katie could tell. But probably more nervous than the singles, because I just didn’t really necessarily know what to do, but I’m really happy once we got out there. Katie made me feel so comfortable, and I’m just so pleased to get a win on the board.”

There were plenty of high-fives, fist-pumps and smiles from the pair between points. After both falling at the second round at Roland Garros, the pair cut a picture of fun. They certainly showed great telepathy,

Even when Wu and Jiang broke back on the Raducanu serve to level the first set at four games a-piece, there was a steeliness about the British pairing which could not be dimmed. Boulter unleashed a sizzling cross-court backhand from the baseline as they broke back immediately to the delight of the crowd under overcast West Kensington skies.

Their partnership might only be one match old, but might it make an appearance at Wimbledon? “We haven’t spoken about it,” said Raducanu, when the question was put to her. “It kind of came spontaneously, like all things do with us, but it went pretty well. We’re just going to keep trying to do as best as we can this week and take it from there.”  

Boulter, though, was all too happy to play the joker. “Scrap what she said,” interjected Boulter, cutting across Raducanu in their post-match press conference. “We’re going for the Wimbledon title. No, I’m just kidding.”

Their telepathy became increasingly obvious when the British pair eked out a healthy advantage in a one-sided second set in which they twice broke their opponents, with Raducanu wrapping up proceedings with a simple tap-down at the net. It was a polished display which left Boulter, the more experienced doubles player of the two, immensely satisfied with their afternoon’s work.

“I think we both serve and return very well, and we both have great volleys,” said Boulter, who teamed up with her fiance, the Australian Alex de Minaur, at Wimbledon in 2023, and helped engineer a pivotal victory alongside Jodie Burrage at the Billie Jean King Cup last April. “I feel like if one of us hits a good ball, we’re both capitalising on that. So naturally I already feel a lot more confident that Emma is going to put the ball away if I’ve hit a good shot.”

This win means both should embark on their singles campaigns with a spring in their step, with Raducanu and Boulter facing Cristina Busca and Ajla Tomljanović respectively in the singles draw on Tuesday. Having started “Boultercanu” with a bang, they will no doubt have a spring in their step.

03:56 PM BST

Next opponents for ‘Boultercanu’

Next up for ‘Boultercanu’ could be a Battle of Britain against Jodie Burrage and Sonay Kartal, if they come through their opening clash with Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe tomorrow.

03:44 PM BST

The winning moment

Match point pic.twitter.com/PfqfIW3YAJ— Raducanu News (@RaducanuNews) June 9, 2025

03:33 PM BST

Boulter/Raducanu beat Jiang/Wu 6-4, 6-2

Fairly plain sailing for Boulter and Raducany as they progress to the next round, making light work of their oponents. Boulter’s serve just a bit too much in this particular game, but Raducanu finds the winner and the pair yelp with delight!

They are through to the next round. 

03:28 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu 6-4, 5-2 *Jiang/Wu

Deuce, so a break point for the Britons as there is no advantage in this format. They convert, with Raducanu volleying over the net after a lengthy rally between Boulter and Wu. 

Two breaks up now for Boulter/Raducanu, so they will serve for the set and the match. 

03:24 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu* 6-4, 4-2 Jiang/Wu

Boulter and Raducanu hold their serve to love and go within two games of progressing. They will, of course, have bigger things on their mind soon (the singles) but winning is winning. 

03:21 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu 6-4, 3-2 Jiang/Wu*

We are back to one game in it but, really, you feel that the Boulter/Raducanu service game is too strong and that they should make easy work of this second set.

03:20 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu* 6-4, 3-1 Jiang/Wu

No real sign of the Boulter/Raducanu momentum stopping here. Hard to say they have been imperious because it’s doubles and that kind of thing is far less easy to discern because of the format’s nature. But they hold serve and keep their two-game lead.

03:14 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu 6-4, 2-1 Jiang/Wu*

More break points for the Britons as 0-30 becomes 15-40. Wu sends a return long and Boulter/Raducanu are a set and a break up. Another huge cheer on court for the Britons. 

03:12 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu* 6-4, 1-1 Jiang/Wu

It’s Raducanu’s service game and a pretty comfortable one, too. 

The British pair are certainly looking the more likely at the moment. 

03:09 PM BST

Set 2: Boulter/Raducanu 6-4, 0-1 Jiang/Wu*

The Britons are overpowered slightly by their opponents in the first game of the second set, though, it is just a hold of serve.

03:03 PM BST

Boulter/Raducanu take first set 6-4!

Not a straight-forward service game, though, but Raducanu finds the gap at 30-30 before a double fautl by Boulter sends us back to deuce. Jiang’s return is long, though, next time up and Boulter and Raducanu take the first set 6-4!

02:58 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu 5-4 Jiang/Wu*

Not to worry, Boulter and Raducanu immediately get three break points... but squander them, returning to deuce. Boulter secures a break of serve with a ferocious two-handed backhand return across the court. Thunderous. They will now serve for the first set. 

02:54 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu* 4-4 Jiang/Wu

Perhaps a little less enjoyable now the British duo have finally been broken by Jiang and Wu, mind you. We are back on serve. 

02:50 PM BST

Raducanu and Boulter enjoying this

Weird to think Raducanu’s last – and only – doubles match of her professional career was in 2022 at the Citi Open, when she teamed up with Denmark’s Clara Tauson. The Brits have had minimal practice time together but they have looked the more energetic duo. There’s lots of smiles and high-fiving between the British pair in between points. They look like they’re enjoying their first day of this year’s grass court swing.

02:48 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu 4-3 Jiang/Wu*

Boulter and Raducanu are clearly getting into this, as shown by their cheers when they win a point to make it 40-15. Unfortunately the cheer does not last too long as Jiang and Wu get it back to 4-3. 

02:45 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu* 4-2 Jiang/Wu

Again, a bit of resistance on their serve, with a break point to Jiang and Wu but some neat cross-court play from Boulter means they retain their break advantage, when Jiang shovels it wide after a long rally with Boulter. 

02:39 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu 3-2 Jiang/Wu*

Boulter and Raducanu get to deuce on their opponents’ serve which becomes game to Jiang and Wu. Boulter’s return crashes into the net and we are back to one game in it, though the Britons are still a break up.

02:35 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu* 3-1 Jiang/Wu

The two-game lead is restored, though not without some threat at Jiang and Wu get to deuce. Raducanu’s powerful serve proves too much on the game-winning point, though, the return rolls up to the net at ankle height. She lets out a cry of “come on!” after. 

02:29 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu 2-1 Jiang/Wu*

Jiang and Wu get a game on the board without too much difficulty this time, some improved serves proving too much for the British pair this time. 

02:27 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu* 2-0 Jiang/Wu

A service game win to the loss of just one point, with Boulter doing the heavy lifting as Jiang hits it long to end the game.

02:24 PM BST

Set 1: Boulter/Raducanu 1-0 Jiang/Wu*

Boulter and Raducanu start well, getting to Deuce before converting that break point at the first time of asking. All played at a fairly frantic pace, as doubles often is.

*denotes server

02:17 PM BST

We are just a few moments away from action on Court 1

Two minutes, in fact. 

02:03 PM BST

Tatjana Maria beats Leylah Fernandez 7-6, 6-2...

...so Raducanu and Boulter are up shortly. 

01:39 PM BST

Tatjana Maria is racing through the second set...

...having won the first 7-6. She’s 4-0 up on Fernandez so we might not be too long for some action. 

01:35 PM BST

Warm-up photos from earlier today

01:23 PM BST

Raducanu has not been a doubles regular by any means

This will be her first appearance in a doubles event since 2022. Her’s and Boulter’s opponents are both ranked inside the top 30 in doubles. 

01:11 PM BST

When will play start?

Boulter and Raducanu are next up on Court 1 but there is a women’s singles match currently taking place. Leylah Fernandez is 6-6 in the first set against Germany’s Tatjana Maria, so it is not exactly imminent. 

12:47 PM BST

Cavaday returns to Raducanu camp

Emma Raducanu confirmed the latest development in her ongoing coaching saga with the return of Nick Cavaday, the man who decided to step away from the role earlier this year in order to prioritise his own health.

Cavaday oversaw Raducanu’s training session on Sunday at Queen’s and the 2021 US Open champion confirmed that he will team up with her current coach, Mark Petchey, having filled in this week while the latter remains in Paris on television commentary duty.

“I’m happy to see him healthy, first of all,” said Raducanu, who split from Cavaday in January to leave her looking for a seventh full-time coach in three-and-a-half years as a professional.

“I mean, it’s been such a long time since we were last on court together in Australia, and Mark is in Paris commentating, so Nick was around and it was nice to just have a few days with him.”

12:35 PM BST

What Boulter says about teaming up with Raducanu

“I think myself and Emma, we’ve been wanting to play for a while now,” Boulter said on Sunday. “I think we’ve talked about it a lot of times, and unfortunately, it just hasn’t quite happened for various reasons. I think [for the] first week on grass, to get a couple more matches is super important.

“I think we were actually here at Queen’s, practising on the clay, and we decided we thought we’d come back and play on the grass together.

“It’ll be extremely special. Obviously, she’s a great player, and I’m looking forward to having the first of many more.”

12:13 PM BST

Raducanu feeling ‘good’ before linking up with Boulter

Emma Raducanu felt “pretty good” after completing her first rigorous grass-court training session of the season as she manages an ongoing back issue in the build-up to Wimbledon.

The 2021 US Open champion, who suffered a second-round exit to Iga Swiatek at the French Open, has been hindered by persistent spasms for much of 2025.

She will play at Queen’s this week, with grand slam action at the All England Club scheduled to start on Monday, June 30.

“I got back [from Paris] last week and then I got straight back on the court,” Raducanu told a press conference.

“I had a small interruption with a bit of a back spasm again, which was a bit annoying and that hindered my grass prep. But the last few days I have managed to get on the grass.

“I can’t really predict the future. I know I have been managing my back for the last few weeks now and it’s something that comes and goes.

“It can be frustrating. I try not to let it get to me because I have a pretty good feel when it happens of how to manage it. All I can do is deal with what’s in front of me

“Today was the first day I opened it up and played points on the grass. It is pretty early days and I can’t say I have had a lot of prep on it. But I felt pretty good today.”

British number two Raducanu, who is ranked 41st in the world, was dismantled 6-1 6-2 by reigning champion Swiatek at Roland Garros.

Subject to overcoming a qualifier, she could face current Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the second round at Queen’s, while she is set to pair up with British number one Katie Boulter in the doubles with this opening match against Wu Fang-hsien of Taiwan and Jiang Xinyu of China. 

“Playing a doubles match with Katie will hopefully give me a good feel for that surface and it will be positive,” the 22-year-old said.

“I really like playing with Katie. We’ve practised a few times together in the past at Billie Jean King Cup ties.”