Raducanu so nervous ahead of doubles bow at Queen's

WIN FOR BRIT IN ONLY SECOND EVER DOUBLES OUTING

- By RACHEL STEINBERG, PA

EMMA Raducanu confessed she was “very nervous” before making her Queen’s Club debut with doubles partner Katie Boulter after the British pair secured a 6-4 6-2 victory over Wu Fang-Hsien and Jiang Xinyu.

Raducanu had before this played doubles just once, partnering Clara Tauson in round one of the 2022 Washington Open, and alongside Boulter was fully backed by the home crowd on the packed and more intimate Court One.

The WTA 500 event marks the first time in 52 years Queen's has hosted women’s tennis, and while the pairing of British number one Boulter and number two Raducanu were not quite ready to submit their entries to Wimbledon, there were hugs and fist pumps aplenty as they got their grass court seasons under way.

“I was actually very nervous before the match,’ said 2021 US Open champion Raducanu, who has drawn a to be determined qualifier for her opening singles match.