Emma Raducanu’s doubles partnership with Katie Boulter got off to a winning start at Queen’s Club.
The 2021 US Open champion teamed up with the British No1 in an unlikely pairing on the first day of the inaugural women’s event at the prestigious west London club as the British grass-court swing got underway.
Raducanu, who had not played since her second-round defeat by Iga Swiatek at the French Open, was in top form alongside her compatriot as they romped to a straight-sets victory over Fang-Hsien Wu and Xinyu Jiang in the first round of the women’s doubles.
Raducanu and Boulter came through 6-4 6-2 in one hour and 12 minutes on Court One.
They could face another British pair - Jodie Burrage and Sonay Kartal - in the second round, should the wildcard duo get past the top seeds Lyudmyla Kichenok and Erin Routliffe.
Raducanu had only played one game of doubles in her professional career, when she entered the Washington Open with Clara Tauson back in 2022.
They were beaten in the first round, and Raducanu then pulled out of playing the mixed doubles at Wimbledon with Andy Murray, ending the Scot’s career at the All England Club.
Boulter, however, is a more experienced doubles player, having won all three doubles rubbers that she has played for Great Britain at the Billie Jean King Cup.
She also reached the second rounds of the women’s doubles at the 2024 US Open, and the mixed doubles - alongside her partner Alex de Minaur - of Wimbledon in 2023.
The Britons - playing together for the first time ever - started superbly, breaking serve in the opening game.
They faced break-back points at 2-1 and 3-2, before eventually Wu and Jiang levelled proceedings to 4-4.
However, at the fourth time of asking, Raducanu and Boulter re-established their break advantage, and closed out the opening set, converting their second set point.
The second set was far more one-sided, as the Britons, buoyed by the home support, broke at 2-1 in the second, and doubling that advantage to up 5-2.
The onus was on Boulter to serve it out, and she did just that, with a tricky wide serve at match point knocked straight into the path of Raducanu, whose volley putaway booked their place in round two.
Later on Monday, Kartal was hugely impressive in beating world number Daria Kasatkina in three sets.
The Briton won 6-1 3-6 6-3 to begin her singles campaign in ideal fashion and will face eighth seed Amanda Anisimova in the round of 16.
Anisimova beat Kartal’s doubles partner Burrage after dropping the first set, recovering to secure a 4-6 6-3 6-4 victory.
