Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter delivered a standout performance at Queen’s Club, bringing excitement and humor to the court as women’s tennis returned to the event for the first time since 1973. Their debut doubles match drew a packed crowd, and those lucky enough to secure seats witnessed a dominant 6-4, 6-2 win over China’s Jiang Xinyu and Taiwan’s Wu Fang-hsien.
Fans who left their seats risked losing them. One woman with an empty Pimm’s jug chose to stay rather than queue again— a smart decision, as demand to see the duo dubbed “Boultercanu” stretched around the venue.
Raducanu and Boulter’s chemistry shone on court. They exchanged high-fives, shared laughs, and even joked during their post-match press conference. When asked about playing doubles at Wimbledon, Raducanu gave a cautious answer. “We’re just trying to do our best this week,” she said. But Boulter cut in with a laugh: “Scrap what she said. We’re going for the Wimbledon title.”
Raducanu admitted she felt nervous. “Probably more nervous than in singles. I didn’t really know what to do. But Katie made me feel comfortable. I’m so pleased to get a win.”
Despite the excitement, only 1,000 spectators could watch the match, which took place on court one instead of the larger Andy Murray Arena, which seats 7,700. Many fans were frustrated. Helen Milliner, who had booked tickets months in advance, was disappointed. “I was hoping to see Radders and Katie on the main court. The queue for court one was at least an hour long.”
Organizers later explained that WTA rules require singles matches to be played on the main court.
Still, court one offered a unique experience. Spectators were so close that Raducanu chatted with fans while refilling her water bottle. “I love these smaller courts where you really feel the support,” she said. “I was literally having a conversation in the stands.”
TV viewers were also left out, as the BBC chose to air Sonay Kartal’s match instead. However, Kartal delivered an outstanding performance, defeating world No. 16 Daria Kasatkina 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. “Being the first Brit on the Andy Murray Arena was incredible,” she said. “The crowd was behind me exactly when I needed it. I loved every second.”
This year’s Queen’s Club tournament brings other changes too. For the first time, there are no line judges. Instead, pre-recorded calls from LTA members signal out balls. But the system isn’t perfect—several times the word “Out!” was heard even when the ball hit the net.
Another new feature is a color-coded sticker system for spectators. A green sticker allows movement during play. Orange permits movement only at the end of a game, and red means fans must wait for a changeover or the end of a set.
Looking ahead, both Raducanu and Boulter return to the Andy Murray Arena on Tuesday for their singles matches. Boulter will face Ajla Tomljanovic, while Raducanu takes on Cristina Bucșa.
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