Boulter beats teen sensation Gauff in one of her best wins
LEICESTERSHIRE STAR SEES OFF AMERICAN RANKED 48TH IN THE WORLD AND WILL NEXT FACE THE US OPEN CHAMP OSAKA
BRITAIN’S Katie Boulter claimed one of the biggest wins of her career with a three-set victory over Coco Gauff in the second round of the Gippsland Trophy tournament in Melbourne.
Boulter, ranked 371 in the world after an injury lay-off, beat 48thranked American Gauff 3-6 7-5 6-2.
The 24-year-old, from Woodhouse Eaves, who plays US Open champion Naomi Osaka next, had not won consecutive WTA matches since 2018.
Earlier, British number one Johanna Konta beat Bernarda Pera in her first match of 2021.
Konta beat the American 6-2 6-3 to set up a meeting with Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.
Boulter’s third round opponent Osaka needed just over an hour to sweep aside Alize Cornet 6-2 6-2.
Gauff is only 16 but she is one of the most talked about players on the WTA circuit after her runs at the Australian Open in 2020 and Wimbledon the previous year.
She beat defending champion Osaka in Melbourne last year on her way to the fourth round and was seeded 14th at the Gippsland event.
However, she was unable to convert match point at 6-3 5-4 in the second set, allowing Boulter to fight her way back into the match.
Gauff served three double faults in the final game of the match as Boulter closed out an impressive victory in one hour, 46 minutes.
“I am as strong as I have ever been physically,” Boulter said.
“Mentally, I feel like I’m in a great place after that very difficult time.”
Boulter had begun her season the day before with a dominant victory against 107th-ranked Russian Anna Kalinskaya
The Gippsland Trophy is one of six events being held at Melbourne Park this week to allow players to prepare for the Australian
Open, which starts next Monday.
Britain’s Heather Watson will play in the Grampians Trophy, which begins today, after 14 days in isolation in her hotel room under Australia’s strict Covid restrictions.
She will play Russian Veronika Kudermetova in the first round.