Emma Raducanu Reclaims British Number One Spot After Katie Boulter’s Defeat at Queen’s Club in London

Changing of the guard at the top of British women’s tennis as Queen’s Club drama unfolds

Raducanu Returns to the Top Ranking

Emma Raducanu is set to regain her position as the top-ranked British female tennis player following Katie Boulter’s second-round exit at the Queen’s Club Championships in London. The shift in rankings comes two years after Boulter originally overtook Raducanu for the coveted national top spot.

Strong Start Undone by Unforced Errors

Boulter looked confident in her opening set against Russia’s fifth seed, Diana Shnaider. Dominating early with consistent serves, she landed 75% of her first serves and racked up 10 winners. Her composed play saw her break Shnaider’s serve twice while fending off break points of her own to take the first set 6-2.

However, momentum quickly shifted in the second set. Boulter’s serve faltered under pressure, with two double faults allowing Shnaider to recover from 40-0 and claim an early break. A short rain delay mid-set didn’t help Boulter’s rhythm, and Shnaider capitalized with another break to stretch her lead to 5-1.

Though Boulter fought back to break serve and hold her next game, Shnaider held firm, sealing the second set and pushing the match into a decider.

Final Set Struggles and Nine Costly Double Faults

The deciding set saw Boulter’s serve woes continue. A double fault on the opening point set the tone, and though she dug deep to hold from 0-40, two more double faults in the third game gave Shnaider the advantage.

The Russian’s composure and aggressive returns proved too much as she secured another break in the seventh game, setting herself up to serve out the match. She did so with confidence, booking her place in the quarter-finals and ending Boulter’s run.

By the end, Boulter had accumulated nine double faults—an uncharacteristic stat that proved costly on home soil.

Shnaider Wins but Apologizes to British Fans

Speaking after her victory, the 21-year-old Shnaider expressed heartfelt regret for defeating a home favorite in front of a supportive British crowd at the Andy Murray Arena.

“I definitely want to apologise to the crowd,” she said on court. “Katie is such a lovely person, and I love her with all my heart. It’s tough to beat her here, but I hope you won’t hate me and will come cheer for me tomorrow.”

Heather Watson Also Falls in Second Round

Boulter wasn’t the only British player to bow out on the day. Heather Watson also exited in the second round after a straight-sets loss to fourth seed Elena Rybakina. Despite an encouraging performance in qualifying and an earlier win against Yulia Putintseva, Watson couldn’t match the power of the 2022 Wimbledon champion, falling 6-4, 6-2.

What’s Next

With Raducanu rising back to the top of the British rankings and Boulter and Watson out of the Queen’s Club event, all eyes now turn to the upcoming Wimbledon Championships. British fans will be watching closely to see how their top talents rebound from these early summer results.