Emma Raducanu Surges Past Ons Jabeur in Rankings, Targets Katie Boulter’s British No. 1 Spot
Emma Raducanu has climbed to world No. 34 in the WTA live rankings, overtaking two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur (No. 36), following her first-round singles win at the WTA 500 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club on June 9, 2025. Raducanu defeated qualifier [opponent name not specified in sources] 6-4, 7-5, marking a strong start to her grass-court season despite limited preparation due to recurring back spasms, per Express.co.uk. This leap positions her just one spot behind British No. 1 Katie Boulter (No. 33), intensifying their rivalry as both vie for a Wimbledon seeding (top 32) ahead of the Championships (June 30-July 13), per The Independent.
Raducanu and Boulter also teamed up for a doubles victory at Queen’s, defeating Xinyu Jiang and Fang-Hsien Wu 6-4, 6-2, showcasing their chemistry in a match dubbed “Boultercanu” by fans, per The Times. Boulter, with two Nottingham Open titles, holds the edge with more doubles experience, while Raducanu’s limited grass practice—only two to three days due to her back—makes her progress notable, per The Guardian. Raducanu’s recent form, including a 2024 Nottingham semi-final loss to Boulter (6-7(13), 6-3, 6-4), fuels her ambition to reclaim the British No. 1 ranking she held post-2021 US Open, per Sky Sports.[]
A deep run at Queen’s, where Raducanu faces Rebecca Sramkova next and could meet Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova, could see her surpass Boulter, who faces a qualifier but has a tougher draw with Diana Shnaider looming, per LTA.org.uk. Posts on X, like @BritishTennisUp, highlight Raducanu’s 9-4 record in recent big tournaments, signaling her potential to challenge Boulter’s throne.[]
