Queen's Club Championships 2025: Emma Raducanu advances at Queen's as Katie Boulter falls, loses British No. 1 ranking to doubles partner

Emma Raducanu beat Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets at the Queen's Club Championship to advance to the quarter-final of the competition, where she will face either Zheng Qinwen or McCartney Kessler. Earlier in the day, Katie Boulter suffered a blow in her build-up to Wimbledon as she was knocked out of the tournament and in turn lost her British No. 1 status to her doubles partner.

Emma Raducanu admitted she was "really pleased" upon dispatching Rebecca Sramkova in straight sets at the Queen's Club Championship.

The Briton claimed a 6-4 6-1 victory over Sramkova to set up a quarter-final encounter against either top seed Qinwen Zheng or McCartney Kessler.

"I am really pleased to get through that", Raducanu said, via the BBC. "I don't think it was my cleanest performance, but I am really pleased to push through in the tight moments. I really appreciate the support in that spell when she was coming back.

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"I came out ready, expecting everything. I am just happy I was able to get off to a good start and build a lead."

Earlier in the day, Katie Boulter suffered a last-16 exit to fifth seed Diana Shnaider, which meant that the 28-year-old would relinquish her British No. 1 status to Raducanu. 

Boulter has held the top spot in British women's tennis since June 2023.

Raducanu: Chasing Boulter is 'motivating' but not 'main fuel'

Video credit: TNT Sports

And perhaps buoyed by her new status, Raducanu was ruthless in the first set, storming to a 5-0 lead before stumbling over the line. 

The 22-year-old then used her backhand to great effect in the second set, conceding one game to seal victory. 

After she wrapped up the win, Raducanu wrote "long live Boultucanu" on the camera lens, a shout-out to her doubles' partnership with Boulter.

Boulter loses British No. 1 status with Queen's defeat

Boulter looked strong early on in the match as she impressively took the opening set, but Shnaider soon found her feet and fought back for a 2-6 6-3 6-2 victory.

The result is a blow for Boulter as she prepares for the third Grand Slam of the year at Wimbledon, which gets underway on June 30.

Shnaider goes through to the quarter-finals at Queen's, where she will play Australian Open winner Madison Keys, who knocked Boulter out of the French Open last month.

The 21-year-old apologised to the London crowd for the outcome of the match in her courtside interview after the win.

"Katie is such a lovely person, to play her and beat her in front of a home crowd, I feel so sorry," Schnaider said.

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"I hope you're not going to hate me too much and come and support me tomorrow.

"Grass for me feels very relaxed and comfortable, I just love this surface.

"I'm trying to trust myself more, and trust the process and accept that it's okay to make mistakes and not to be too negative to myself.

"There's a lot of work going on and I'm very happy with the win today."

Keys booked her place in the last eight with a comfortable 6-3 6-2 win over Anastasia Zakharova.

Boulter will next head to Nottingham, where she will attempt to win the Rothesay Open for the third year in succession.

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