British tennis has always had a strong, and at times, the best competitors in the doubles game. Asides from Andy Murray, the singles competition has not always performed as strongly.
Times are changing as just this week British number 1 on the woman’s tour, Katie Boulter has had a power run straight to the title in San Diego. The San Diego Open in California is a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 event, the second biggest level of competition in the WTA set up.
Boulter has recently been finding her game, capturing her first WTA title in Nottingham back in June of 2023. Since then she has preforming consistently, often making 3rd rounds of big tournaments. In the opening round, Boulter faced Ukrainian Tsurenko, who she broke immediately in the second game, and then comfortably pushed her aside 6-3 6-1.
A much bigger test awaited in round two. The number two seed, and world number 13, Beatrice Haddad Mia of Brazil. Mia played a strong set of tennis, and took the first in her favour, 6-3. Boulter then fought back in a tough first service game, witch she sealed with an ace. This then lead her to tie the match, winning the second set, also 6-3! Boulter then played some fantastic points, to find herself up 5-4 on serve. She then held her service game to love to knock out the 2nd seed Haddad Mia.
Boulter then took on the 7th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia. Boulter went down an early break, 4-3, but then pulled back, going on a 7 game winning streak to win 6-4 6-3. In the semi-final she faced big hitter Navarro of the USA, and the 3rd seed. Navarro was the favourite, but Boulter prevailed to win 6-3 6-1 without being broken (a rareity in the woman’s game)!!
In the final, she was up against another Ukranian, Marta Kostyuk. Kostyuk won the first set in a tight, cat-and-mouse set 7-5, but Boulter was not fased, and went on to breez through the next two sets 6-2 6-2.
Boulter has now moved up to 27 in the world rankings, a personal highest, and the highest a British woman has been since Raducanu in 2021.
Boulter will next compete in the Indian Wells masters, where she will just miss out on a seeding, as they were fixed several weeks ago, before she had the points to earn a seeded position. However, this is a great step in the right direction for Woman’s tennis, and British tennis overall.
By Charlie Yr9
Carre’s Grammar School, Sleaford
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What a super article. I love watching tennis and hope that Katie continues to win plenty more tournaments. British Number 1 – well done Katie.