Tim Henman challenges Emma Raducanu and Katie Boulter as Brits hope to mark a mark at Wimbledon

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu will be carrying British hopes

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu will be carrying British hopes

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 01/07/2024

- 12:02

Katie Boulter is the British No 1 in the women's singles draw and will be aiming for a career-best run.

Tim Henman wants to see both Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu make it through to the second week at Wimbledon in what would be a huge boost for British tennis.

It proved to be a disappointing Wimbledon Championships for British tennis last year with both Raducanu and Jack Draper not even making the main draw as they were recovering from injury.


Boulter and Liam Broady were the only British players to make a stab at a run, but the former was stopped by defending Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the third round while the latter lost to Denis Shapovalov at the same stage.

It was the first time in five years that Great Britain didn't have anyone in either singles draw competing in the second week of Wimbledon.

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu will be carrying British hopes

Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu will be carrying British hopes

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But there is plenty of optimism this time around to suggest last year was a one-off.

Draper is the British No 1 and enters the tournament in terrific form having won his maiden ATP Tour title in Stuttgart last month.

Boulter successfully defended her crown in Nottingham with both players seeded at Wimbledon.

Raducanu has also managed to find some good form since the start of the grasscourt season, with decent runs in both Nottingham and Eastbourne.

The 21-year-old boosted her confidence even further with an impressive comeback win against world No 5 Jessica Pegula last week.

Henman feels Boulter has the better chance of all to go the furthest in the women's singles draw, however he feels there is also a good chance that Raducanu could join her.

“I think probably Boulter [will go further]," he told the I.

"She is knocking on the door of the top 20.

“She’s just a bit more experienced and played a lot more tennis.

"But I definitely think they both could be in the second week. It would be interesting to see.

Jack Draper is the British male No 1

Jack Draper is the British male No 1

REUTERS

“Those British stories are fascinating in the championship.

"When we have British men and women doing well, the crowd get behind them, it creates so many stories.

"Fingers crossed, there will be a lot more of them this year.”

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Emma Raducanu will be hoping for a deep run

Emma Raducanu will be hoping for a deep run

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Raducanu's hopes were given a huge boost on Monday when her original opponent Ekaterina Alexandrova withdrew from the tournament with illness.

She was replaced by lucky loser Renata Zarazua, who has never played in the main draw at Wimbledon before.

Boulter meanwhile begins her tournament against Tatjana Maria with Harriet Dart potentially waiting in the next round.

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