Emma Raducanu in danger of rankings hammer blow on the eve of Wimbledon
Emma Raducanu reclaimed the British No 1 title after her run to the quarter-finals of the WTA 500 tournament at the Queen’s Club last week, but she is in danger of losing that status in double quick time.
Katie Boulter’s winning form at the Nottingham Open continued as she won a tight three-set match against compatriot Sonay Kartal on Thursday, firing the champion from 2023 and 2024 back into the quarter-finals at a tournament that seems to bring the best out in her.
Now Boulter will be eyeing up a third successive WTA 250 title in Nottingham and if she achieves that goal, he will reclaim the British No 1 ranking on Monday.
Raducanu could have cemented her status as British No 1 if she had played in the WTA 500 tournament she entered in Berlin this week, but she was forced to pull out with a back problem.
Organisers of next week’s Eastbourne tournament are hopeful Raducanu will be fit to play in their event, with the British fans certain to lap up the chance to watch Raducanu play on grass courts at home once again.
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Even if she lost the British No 1 ranking this week, Raducanu could reclaim it with a strong run in Eastbourne and it seems the battle with Boulter is not hugely important to her as she sets her sights on another strong run at Wimbledon.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the most important thing for me. I think having Katie in front, it was nice for me to have something to chase,” she said of the battle for the British No 1 rankings last week.
“Now I’m sure she’s going to enjoy that with me. The grass season is still young, and so is the rest of the season.
“But regardless, we have a healthy competition between us two. I want to see her do well; she wants to see me do well.”
Boulter, who played doubles with Raducanu at Queen’s Club last week, was also philosophical about the rankings battle with her friend and rival.
“Tennis is a funny one,” said Boulter. “Some people lose 250 points one week, some people lose zero, some people lose 100. It’s something that happens every single week.
“I’m very well aware that I lost 250 this week, because Nottingham is next week and the scheduling’s been different. Of course I personally want to be getting my ranking moving in the right direction.
“I’m very happy for her to be British No 1. But at the same time, it’s going to be fun for me to chase her now, and I think she’s been doing that for a while. Now it’s kind of my turn.”
Boulter has a chance to sneak into the seeded positions at Wimbledon if she can retain her Nottingham Open title and she will face America’s McCartney Kessler in her next match.
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