Boulter secures career high world ranking
Reaches first WTA quarter final
TENNIS ACE Katie Boulter has broken into the world’s top 150 for the first time in her career after a fantastic run at the Nature Valley Open at Nottingham.
The British No.4 from Woodhouse Eaves won her first ever main draw matches at a WTA top-tier tournament in Nottingham, beating former US Open champion Sam Stosur before falling to top seed and tournament winner Ashleigh Barty of Australia in the quarter-finals.
Her progress to the last eight has seen her rise to a new career best ranking of 139.
She said: “Nottingham was really good, it kind of helps me see where I am right now with everything that I’ve been doing, it’s been a really good week and an eye opener, and it can help me for the rest of the season and the rest of the year, I feel like I can compete with these players and I think I showed that last week.
“I think until you start beating these people who are ranked higher, bigger names, you are going to doubt yourself a little bit. It is natural to do so but it is an eye opener because it shows that I can do it and I am getting better at everything.”
Boulter is relishing being compet- itive against top players, and that was her highlight from Nottingham.
“I haven’t been in that environment before, I haven’t played many of those matches and finding a way to get over that line and win the match, it means a lot to me.
“I have been working a lot more physically. A few years ago I was ill but since then I have been building my game up, trying to gain strength with more hours on court and it has had a huge impact on me. I have been working with the Federation on getting stronger, so I can last longer and back these wins up, I have always felt like I can beat someone but could I back it up the next day and feel like I’m feeling okay. It has played a huge part in my year so far.”
This week at the Nature Valley Classic in Birmingham she faced World No.18 Naomi Osaka of Japan and was beaten 6-1 6-2 but had said before the tournament started that a defeat wouldn’t affect her and she was grateful to get another chance to play a top 20 player.
“I do the same thing day in day out, I work hard and whether it happens this week, the week after, I’m hoping that I what I have put in is going to come out. I won’t be disheartened if I have bad week here and there because that’s tennis, it’s how you pick yourself up and get back to the next one.
“Hopefully each week I’m going to get better and feel more comfortable out there. I had a lot of confidence coming into Nottingham and I have got a lot of wins behind me recently before the grass as well which has made a huge impact.
“When I’m out there playing someone of a higher level I know I can compete.”