Boulter into semi- finals as Lumsden is edged out

Katie Boulter flexed her muscles in a dominant win over Emily Arbuthnott at the Progress Tour Women’s Championships.

Boulter followed up her opening day win over Alice Gillan with a clinical 6-1, 6-3 success against Arbuthnott at the allbritish tournament in Roehampton.

The win saw the 23-yearold book her place in the semi-final, with today’s clash with Jodie Burrage determining who will take top spot in Group Anne Keothavong.

Boulter, taking her first steps back following a lengthy back injury, is the favourite to win the tournament with Johanna Konta not playing and Heather Watson withdrawing on the eve of the event.

She hit Arbuthnott, who is ranked 954 in the world and was a last-minute addition to the lineup, off the court in a routine win.

“I thought I was pretty relaxed, I came out pretty strong,” she said on BBC Sport. “I am happy I closed the door and got the win.

“I am really enjoying being back on the court, to be back out here is pretty special and I cherish every minute of it.”

In Group Elena Baltacha, a tight three-setter saw Alicia Barnett edge out Scotland’s Maia Lumsden.

Exchanging a break of serves in the first set there was little to separate them, with Lumsden just holding her nerve at the decisive end of the tie-break.

The pair had a flurry of breaks in the second set, but as in her first match, Barnett looked to be getting into her groove, breaking once more, and serving out the second set to level up the match. Lumsden, above, gifted Barnett a break at the start of the decider and the heavily strapped Lumsden started to lose ground to the tournament collaborator who kept the pressure on to the finish line, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3.

The group lost Katie Swann on Tuesday with a right hip injury and will continue with just the three players.