After defeat to Veronika Kudermetova at the Australian Open, the British No 1 is now the highest ranked player in the world never to have reached the fourth round of a grand slam.
Kudermetova, who has been ranked as high as No 9 in the world, is probably the least disappointing conqueror, but the Brit was nevertheless “gutted” not to have taken advantage of what looked, on paper, like a soft draw.
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Read More“My level, when I think back to it over these last three weeks, has been above my normal level for a long period of time now.
“But one thing I can assure you is I’m going to keep showing up.”
For almost her whole career, Boulter’s goal has been to stay healthy for a whole season. She did that last year, playing 26 tournaments over the 2024 season and making the most of her schedule outside the majors to earn enough points for a seeded spot.
But Boulter’s on-court movement and explosiveness is still lacking – which is perhaps not surprising, because in many ways she is years behind the curve. As well as a spinal stress fracture in 2019 which enforced a lengthy lay-off, she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome as a teenager.
Tactics in big moments
Her tour successes have instead come at events where conditions mean her “first strike”, either a powerful serve or a big forehand, is enough – and she does not need to construct points in the same way: her two titles came on a fast hard court in San Diego and a grass court in Nottingham.
“[There was] the odd point here or there where I tried to be a little bit safe, especially there was one breakpoint that I wasn’t that smart with my tactics. I went to her backhand, and she hit a good backhand line,” Boulter said.
Against Harriet Dart too at Wimbledon last year, along with the US Open defeat to world No 74 Jessica Bouzas Maneiro, she could be accused of being too passive tactically – but increased aggression comes with its own risks.
“When she’s on, she can hit winners from anywhere. But sometimes she takes the ball early and hits the higher part of the net and that’s where the unforced error count rises. It’s a case of being patient and taking the winner on.”
Mental resilience
Against Dart at last year, Boulter led 6-2 in the deciding tie-break when Dart burst into tears at the back of the court. It seemed to have an effect at the other end of the court: Boulter won just two more points and lost the match against a lifelong rival in her home grand slam.
None of this is unresolvable or ineffable, but will require hard work, something to which Boulter is no stranger.
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