Boulter breaks into the world’s top 250
Boulter breaks into the world top 250
WOODHOUSE Eaves tennis star Katie Boulter has broken into the world’s top 250 for the first time in her career after a successful tour of Japan culminated in a place in the final at the $60,000 ITF event at Kurume.
The 20-year-old who won her third tour title in Turkey back in March, reached the quarter finals of the $60,000 ITF event in Fukuoka at the start of May, losing 0-6 3-6 to Magdalena Rybarikova, and then followed it up by a great display at Kurume.
In the first round Boulter beat Japan’s Haine Ogata 6-2 6-4 before beating British rival Katy Dunne 5-7 6-3 6-1 in the last 16 to set up a quarter final against the number one seed Ksenia Lykina from Russia.
Despite losing the first set 6-1, Boulter staged a great recovery to win the second 6-2 and the deciding set 6-4 to set up a semi final on Saturday against Japanese player Ayano Shimizu.
In the semi, Boulter lost the first set 4-6 before, levelling the match by taking the second set 6-3 and winning the deciding set 6-4 to set up an all British final against Laura Robson.
In the final it was fourth seed Robson who prevailed winning 6-3 6-4 but the ranking points Boulter picked up for reaching the final saw her climb to an all-time high of 243 and could see her in contention for a wildcard into the main draw at Wimbledon.