Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter’s friendly relationship but professional rivalry could be the spark that British women’s tennis has been crying out for since before the start of the 21st Century.
When Raducanu lifted the US Open trophy in 2021, becoming the first British woman to win a grand slam singles title in 44 years, it felt like the nation had found its new tennis star. Andy Murray exited that tournament three years ago in the first round and there was an assumption that the mantle he had been carrying for so long had finally been passed on.
Although that did not come to pass, with Raducanu’s surgeries on both wrists, an ankle and most recently a foot ligament injury affecting her progress and rankings, there could be a new era of British women’s tennis on the horizon with her and British No 1 Boulter.
British tennis has not seen a world-level domestic rivalry
Laura Robson won junior Wimbledon aged 14, and went on to reach top 30 in the world, but injuries curtailed her career before she was able to establish herself. Johanna Konta then carried British hopes, reaching the top four in the world rankings and the semi-finals of three major grand slams, with Heather Watson also performing well. But there was not the camaraderie of Raducanu and Boulter in a Great Britain team that has developed in-jokes, held a birthday party and even braided each other’s hair.
“We get on really well because I think we’re a really strong one-two combination in the singles,” Raducanu said on her relationship with Boulter.
“Playing at two is a big role, because the ones in the team you know are very, very strong, and I think getting a win and a tough one at two is really important to give Katie a one-point lead, rather than playing with a lot more pressure.
“It’s great to play with her. She’s such a friendly girl, and I know we worked really well together in France [at the Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers] and now doing the same again in Malaga.”
Tennis can often be a lonely sport, particularly in the women’s game, but the Great Britain team have embraced the nature of the environment, playing spike ball together to warm up to foster not just team spirit, but competitiveness, and eating almost every meal together.
“There’s been a few inside jokes that have kept us going, and it’s actually hilarious but I’m going to keep it under wraps for now, until the end and then we’ll explain it,” Raducanu said cryptically following GB’s win over last year’s winners Canada to reach the semi-finals.
‘It’s important the girls gel – that wasn’t always the case’
As team captain, Anne Keothavong knows all too well from her playing days that team relations are not always a given.
“It’s wonderful to see when you’ve got your top two players genuinely getting on, and there’s a huge amount of respect for each other,” she explained following Great Britain’s win over Canada to set up a semi-final meeting with Slovakia.
“You know what’s important for me in this competition, that the girls find a way to gel and get on. And you know from my previous experience as a player, that wasn’t always the case.”
Keothavong had a long-standing rivalry-turned-friendship with Elena Baltacha during her own playing days. They were born just a month apart and both just reached the world top 50, but a falling out led to a period where the pair did not speak for several years, before they reunited to play doubles in London 2012. Baltacha sadly passed away from liver cancer in 2014.
“Over the years I’ve evolved as a captain, but I’m also aware and very lucky to have such great players, who want to be part of this,” Keothavong added.
“I do know they know some of my previous experiences, and they’re well aware of how, why I value this competition and why I want to make the differences that I do. Because as a player, there were some things I didn’t do that was right.”
Rivalries already beneath the surface in British tennis
The strange nature of tennis means that the same players who are team-mates can be pitted against each other, but sometimes rivalries can creep into and affect the harmonious nature of team environments.
Boulter has enjoyed an impressive season as British No 1, breaking into the world top 25 for the first time, and winning the Nottingham Open, despite struggling at the grand slams, including at Wimbledon where she was knocked out by Harriet Dart in a fractious second-round match.
Dart had complained about Boulter’s victory celebration in 2023, calling it “unprofessional” during the meeting between the two, which the latter won in straight sets at the Nottingham Open. Dart was then reduced to tears during their clash at Wimbledon, in a rivalry and relationship that has a multi-generational aspect, with both their mothers playing against each other.
Although the two have been team-mates this week, it has been Boulter in the spotlight, securing tie-clinching victories against Germany’s Laura Siegemund, and 2021 US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.
Dart, ranked No 61, has travelled as part of the Great Britain side, but is unlikely to feature unless there is an injury to either Raducanu or Boulter, affecting their participation.
Great Britain take on Slovakia in the semi-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup on Tuesday, at 11am GMT. Viktoria Hruncakova is ranked 238th in the world and is most likely to play against Raducanu, with Boulter taking on Rebecca Sramkova, although the final team selections will not be confirmed until the hour before the match is due to start.
