Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter Address Fan Frustration Over Queen’s Doubles Coverage**
Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter, Britain’s top two women’s tennis players, responded to fans’ disappointment after their first-round doubles match at the WTA 500 HSBC Championships at Queen’s Club on June 9, 2025, was not televised by the BBC, making it difficult for supporters to watch. The duo, dubbed “Boultercanu,” defeated Xinyu Jiang and Fang-Hsien Wu 6-4, 6-2 on Court One, but the match was relegated to a secondary court with a 1,000-seat capacity and was only available via Tennis Channel streaming, prompting outcry from fans, per Express.co.uk.
Raducanu, in a post-match press conference, acknowledged the passionate support despite the smaller venue, saying, “I didn’t know [about fans waiting outside]. It’s really nice to feel the support from everyone here. Just to have both Brits on the court, we feel it so much more. The atmosphere was pretty fun to play in,” per Express.co.uk. She highlighted the intimate feel of Court One, noting, “On the smaller courts, you get a bigger feel for the match and the atmosphere because it’s more intimate, and you hear the support more. I love playing on those outside courts where you really feel the crowd,” per The Independent.[](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/2066420/Emma-Raducanu-Katie-Boulter-Queens-doubles)[](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/katie-boulter-emma-raducanu-british-queens-club-friends-b2766633.html)
Boulter, who has more doubles experience, did not directly address the broadcast issue but emphasized the match’s significance for their Billie Jean King Cup preparation, saying, “To get some matches on the court together is just good preparation for that, too,” per Express.co.uk. Fans on X, like @boblister_poole, voiced frustration, calling the BBC’s decision a “snub,” while @jamesgraysport clarified that WTA contractual obligations, requiring four singles matches on the Andy Murray Arena, prevented doubles coverage, as schedules were set 60 days in advance, per X posts.
The BBC, responding to Telegraph Sport, explained, “Our TV coverage at Queen’s covers one court with one feed, and we were broadcasting GB’s Sonay Kartal’s Centre Court singles match on BBC Two,” prioritizing Kartal’s upset over Daria Kasatkina, per Telegraph.co.uk. Despite the coverage gap, Raducanu and Boulter’s win showcased their potential, with a possible all-British second-round clash against Jodie Burrage and Sonay Kartal looming, per Sky Sports.
