Olaniyi AyoolaEmma Raducanu and Katie Boulter made a statement on the grass courts at Queen’s Club as women’s tennis returned to the venue for the first time since 1973. Both Brits advanced with impressive first-round wins at the WTA 500 HSBC Championships.
Raducanu responded to her earlier loss this year against Cristina Bucsa with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 victory, showcasing sharp movement, a strong serve, and a confident mindset despite recent back spasms. The 22-year-old described her performance as “very clean and clinical,” adding that being “locked in” and allowing her personality to shine on court maintained her focus. She piled up 18 winners against just eight unforced errors in just over an hour and will meet Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova next.
Katie Boulter endured a marathon first-round clash with Ajla Tomljanovic, eventually prevailing 7-6 (4), 1-6, 6-4 in a tense encounter lasting over two hours. She battled back after dropping the second set and credited the win with bolstering her confidence, saying these tough matches are often the most rewarding . Boulter now faces fellow seeded player Diana Shnaider in round two.
Before their singles matches, Raducanu and Boulter teamed up in doubles, delighting the home crowd with their debut as a pairing dubbed “Boultercanu.” They cruised to a 6-4, 6-2 win over Jiang Xinyu and Wu Fang-Hsien, marking Raducanu’s first WTA doubles victory and boosting their preparations for singles and the upcoming Billie Jean King Cup.
With Heather Watson and Sonay Kartal also advancing, four British women are through to round two, fueling optimism ahead of Wimbledon. The return of WTA action to Queen’s has reignited grass-court enthusiasm, especially for the home nation.
Musa
Olaniyi Ayoola
