Emma Raducanu’s run at the Queen’s tournament hit a wall on Friday as she fell to the top seed, Qinwen Zheng, in a straight-sets defeat.
But it wasn’t just the loss that caught people’s attention—it was also a curious rule breach that most fans weren’t even aware of.
Tough Loss Against a Top Opponent
Facing world No. 5 Zheng in the quarter-finals, Raducanu couldn’t quite find her rhythm and ended up losing 6-2, 6-4.
This followed her earlier wins over Cristina Bucsa and Rebecca Sramkova, which had raised hopes she might go even deeper in the tournament.
Still, Raducanu was candid afterward, admitting that she has a lot of work to do if she wants to make an impact at Wimbledon this year.
Struggling With a Lingering Injury
Another challenge Raducanu faced during the match was her recurring back problem.
She had to leave the court briefly for treatment, revealing afterward that the pain had been tough to manage.
It’s yet another reminder of how physical setbacks continue to test her consistency and preparation.
A Sneaky Rule Breach During a Long Wait
The match took an odd turn in the first set when Zheng paused play to change her shoes and orthotic inserts.
The break dragged on so long that the crowd started booing in frustration.
Trying to stay warm and focused, Raducanu casually hit a practice serve during the delay—a move that raised a few eyebrows.
It turns out that once the match starts, players aren’t allowed to hit practice serves.
That small rule is one most casual fans might not know, and even though the umpire let it slide, it sparked commentary from the BBC’s Annabel Croft.
“I don’t know if Raducanu is meant to hit a ball like that,” Croft said.
“Normally, that’s not allowed once play begins.”
Eyes on Wimbledon After Queen’s Exit
Despite the early exit at Queen’s, Raducanu is keeping her focus on the bigger picture—Wimbledon.
Last year, she reached the fourth round, and there’s hope she can deliver another strong performance on home soil.
To sharpen her grass-court game, she also signed up for doubles action with fellow Brit Katie Boulter.
Together, they made it to the second round of the women’s doubles before falling to the No. 1 seeds, Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok, in a tough 6-2, 7-5 battle.
The Rise of ‘Boultercanu’
Fans have quickly taken to the pairing of Raducanu and Boulter, lovingly dubbing them “Boultercanu.”
The duo started strong with a straight-sets win in their first match and clearly enjoyed teaming up.
After their singles wins earlier in the week, Raducanu even wrote “long live Boultercanu” on the court-side camera lens.
Reflecting on the experience, Raducanu said the doubles match was a refreshing reset after a disappointing singles loss.
“I was really upset after yesterday’s match and felt like I was out of the tournament,” she shared.
“It was actually a real challenge to get myself fired up again, but I’m glad I did.”
And this might not be the last we see of this partnership.
“I really want to play with Katie again, maybe over the grass or definitely sometime in the future,” she added with a smile.
What’s Next?
All eyes will now turn to Wimbledon, where Raducanu will be aiming to put this experience behind her and make another deep run.
With her health, confidence, and a potential doubles comeback with Boulter on the horizon, fans will be watching closely to see what’s next for Britain’s brightest tennis hope.