Katie Boulter’s quest to make a breakthrough in Grand Slam tennis took another hit at the Australian Open, as she was knocked out in the second round by Russian Veronika Kudermetova.

Despite being the No. 22 seed, Boulter was defeated 7-6, 2-6, 6-2, leaving her still searching for a way to progress past the third round of a major tournament.

Continued Struggles at the Grand Slam Stage

It’s been a frustrating run for Boulter, who, despite showing strong form at times, has struggled to make deep runs in Grand Slam events.

After promising much on the big stage, she is still yet to make it past the third round of any major.

“For a player of my quality, that’s just not good enough,” Boulter admitted, acknowledging the gap between her potential and results.

Despite the setback, she remains determined and has committed to prioritizing the Slams this year, though her next chance to push forward will come at the French Open in May.

Boulter Reflects on Her Progress

At 28 years old, Boulter recognizes that she is still finding her way on the main tour, with this being only her second full season.

“I’m still new at this, still fresh into the position I’m in,” she said. While she admits her desire to make a deep run in a Grand Slam, Boulter remains hopeful that it will come with time.

“It’s just a matter of time,” she added, expressing confidence that with more experience, she’ll get the results she’s aiming for.

A Tough Opponent and Close Battle

Boulter’s second-round match against Kudermetova, ranked No. 75 in the world, was expected to be a relatively manageable test.

Before this week, Kudermetova hadn’t won a Grand Slam match since Wimbledon 2023, but the Russian player’s history and skill remained a threat.

Kudermetova started strong, landing 80% of her first serves in the opening set and breaking Boulter’s serve to go 5-2 up.

Despite the tough start, Boulter showed resilience, saving three set points and battling back to break Kudermetova’s serve.

However, after a medical timeout from Kudermetova, Boulter’s momentum faltered.

She fought hard to level the set, but Kudermetova sealed it with a flawless tiebreak.

Opportunities Slipped Away

As the match progressed, Boulter had her chances.

She had an early break point in the third set that could have been pivotal, but Kudermetova regained her composure and started playing more aggressively.

Despite Boulter’s best efforts, she couldn’t find a way to handle Kudermetova’s resurgence, eventually losing the set 6-2 and the match.

“It was a bit of a whirlwind,” Boulter reflected.

“I’m gutted,” she admitted, acknowledging that she felt the opportunity had slipped away.

With the loss, Boulter’s wait for her first Grand Slam breakthrough continues, but she remains focused on the bigger picture.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn