During the last stage of her quarter-final victory against Donna Vekic in San Diego last week, Katie Boulter was frantically scrambling. She was pulled from one side of the court to the other, diving for every ball and desperately trying to remain in the game. After a grueling rally of 24 shots, Boulter managed to track down a drop shot and swiftly hit a powerful forehand winner, securing her win.
Reworded: Last year, it would have been hard to imagine Boulter successfully earning points against tough opponents. Despite her strong serve and powerful groundstrokes, it was clear that she struggled defensively against top-level competition.
The manner in which she wrapped up her win over Vekic was a representation of her continuous progress which has led to the 27-year-old achieving the biggest accomplishment of her career. On Sunday, she concluded a remarkable week in San Diego by defeating Marta Kostyuk 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 and winning her first WTA 500 title. Boulter’s current ranking in the WTA is No. 27, a significant improvement from her previous career best of No. 49. As a seeded player, she will be participating in Indian Wells, one of the top tournaments in the tennis world, solidifying her position as one of the best players.
Boulter’s success is a testament to her determination and ability to wait. It has been approximately five years since she entered the Top 100 and started participating in WTA Tour events, but she unfortunately experienced a stress fracture in her back soon after. As a result, she was unable to compete for seven months and dropped out of the Top 100, reaching a low ranking of No. 441 in February 2020.
After encountering more injuries, she continued to struggle with her ranking falling within the 120-200 range. Despite this, she performed well in Billie Jean Cup matches and when given wildcards to WTA events in Britain. However, she faced difficulties in securing enough wins in the ITF circuit. Last year, her unexpected win at the WTA event in Nottingham, which was aided by a fortunate draw, showcased her determination and marked a pivotal moment in her career.
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Since then, Boulter has made a subtle but strong impression. Until this week, there were no remarkable achievements, but she has been consistent in defeating lower-ranked opponents and challenging herself against top competitors. Being able to solely focus on the WTA Tour for an extended time has allowed her to continuously improve. Furthermore, regularly competing at the highest level has taught her valuable lessons. Despite facing numerous injuries in the past, she has learned to take care of her body by hiring her own physiotherapist, Rory Mee, and adapting to the difficult demands of the punishing tournament schedule.
Last year, Boulter’s mindset was especially notable as she has risen 100 spots in the rankings and made it to the top 50. While some may have been satisfied with her progress, Boulter was determined to continue striving towards her goals. Even though she was content with her performance, she believes it will push her to work even harder in the upcoming season. Boulter stated, following her last match of the season, “Despite being happy with my year, it only drives me to aim higher for next year. I have gained confidence in my abilities at this level and truly believe that I have the potential to climb even higher in the rankings.”
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At the start of the year, Boulter proved her readiness to turn her knowledge into victories by defeating world No 5 Jessica Pegula at the United Cup. This was the first time she had beaten more than one top-50 player in a single tournament. In San Diego, she continued her winning streak, defeating five consecutive top-50 players, including a win against No 13-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia, marking her fourth win against a top-20 player in her career.
After developing better agility and durability, the top-ranked British player has collaborated with her coach, Biljana Veselinovic, to strategize her powerful shots, utilizing angles to her advantage and expanding the court rather than solely relying on straightforward shots. Despite facing numerous challenges in her journey to success, Boulter is now playing with a sense of liberation that heightens her threat on the court.
As Boulter received the largest trophy of her professional career on Sunday evening, she acknowledged the support and diligence of her boyfriend, Alex de Minaur, who spectated from the stands. Just the day before, De Minaur triumphed over Casper Ruud 6-4, 6-4 to secure an ATP 500 championship in Acapulco before hastily traveling to San Diego early Sunday morning. Both athletes have begun the year with outstanding performances, seemingly motivating each other to excel. It will be intriguing to witness their potential soar to new heights.
Source: theguardian.com
