What started as a fun experiment at the Queen’s Club tournament quickly became one of the most talked-about pairings in British tennis.
Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, two of the UK’s biggest tennis stars, joined forces for their first-ever doubles appearance together — and while their run was short-lived, it definitely made an impression.
The pair, cheekily nicknamed “Boultercanu” by fans online, took to the court on Monday for their debut and made a strong start by winning their opening match in straight sets.
But their second-round draw wasn’t quite as kind.
Facing Top Seeds and a Tough Exit
After cruising past Wu Fang-hsien and Jiang Xinyu, the duo found themselves up against the top-seeded team of Erin Routliffe and Lyudmyla Kichenok.
Despite putting up a solid fight, Boulter and Raducanu lost 6-2, 7-5, ending their doubles journey at Queen’s sooner than they’d hoped.
But even with the early exit, it was clear the chemistry between the two Brits was something special — and it might not be the last time we see them team up.
Boulter Leaves the Door Open
Following her own singles defeat to Diana Shnaider on Thursday, Boulter was quick to talk about how much she enjoyed playing with Raducanu.
For her, doubles was a refreshing change of pace — a little less pressure, a little more fun.
“I always have a smile on my face when I play doubles,” Boulter said.
“It’s more relaxed, there’s not as much stress, and playing with Emma this week was genuinely a joy. I’d love to play with her again.”
As for Wimbledon? Boulter didn’t confirm any plans but hinted that nothing’s off the table just yet.
“It’s not currently in the works, but who knows? Maybe we’ll find out later on,” she said with a smile.
Raducanu Echoes the Excitement
Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu — now officially the British No.1 after Boulter’s singles loss — made her feelings clear with a cheeky message to the camera: “Long live Boultercanu.”
That came after she secured a strong straight-sets win over Rebecca Sramkova, helping her regain momentum in the singles draw.
Raducanu admitted it hadn’t been an easy day mentally. “I was really upset after the doubles loss.
I felt like I was out of the tournament,” she said. “But I’m proud of myself for bouncing back.
And yes, I definitely want to play with Katie again — maybe during the grass season, or sometime in the future.”
A Natural Bond on the Court
Despite Raducanu being relatively new to doubles, the pair looked surprisingly cohesive.
But she confessed she was pretty nervous before their first match.
“Honestly, I was more nervous for doubles than I usually am for singles,” Raducanu said.
“I didn’t quite know what to expect, but Katie made me feel so at ease out there. She really guided me.”
The experience clearly left an impact on both players — and fans are already buzzing with hopes of seeing them reunite on the Wimbledon courts.
What’s Next for “Boultercanu”?
While there’s no official word yet on whether the two will pair up again at Wimbledon, both players left the door wide open.
Their debut may have been short, but the connection was obvious — on and off the court.
One thing’s for sure: if “Boultercanu” makes a return, British tennis fans will be ready.