Katie Boulter Battles Past Ajla Tomljanovic in Thrilling Three-Set Match at Queen’s
In a captivating display of skill and determination, British tennis star Katie Boulter secured her debut win at the HSBC Championships in Queen’s, overcoming Australian player Ajla Tomljanovic in a thrilling three-set match. The triumph, reported by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), marks a significant milestone for Boulter, who is relishing every moment of her maiden appearance at one of tennis’s most iconic venues.
According to the LTA, Boulter, a two-time WTA title winner on the grass at Nottingham, will now face fifth seed Diana Shnaider in the next round. The 28-year-old expressed her delight at competing in the first women’s event at Queen’s for 52 years, saying, "It’s very special. To have the women back here feels very special and it’s something I dreamt about – walking out here on this court – after the last couple of years coming to watch the men. I’m just really grateful to be out here and enjoying being on this court."
The LTA reports that Boulter is one of four Brits in the second round, joining Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, and Heather Watson. Boulter and Raducanu have already claimed a win in the doubles together, their first as a duo. With three British players inside the top 50, competition is heating up for the British No.1 spot. However, Boulter remains focused on her own game, stating, "I’m extremely happy to see great people doing really good things and each of them works extremely hard and I have a lot of confidence in all of them."
In her post-match comments, Boulter praised her Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup teammates, saying, "It’s awesome, it’s nice to see the state of British tennis getting better and better each year. I said it to Sonay from day one that I think she’s going to be a great player. We all know what Emma’s capable of, she’s an incredible player and a great person. In terms of British No.1, it holds a massive privilege being that person but I’ve said for the last two years that I’ve held that position, I’m not focused on it, I’m just focused on myself and getting my ranking where I want it to be."
The match itself was a closely contested affair, with both players trying to find their feet on the new court. Boulter had the chance to serve for a one-set lead at 5-3 but Tomljanovic managed to force her way to a tie-break. Despite the Aussie’s efforts to get back into the set, she made a poor error serving at 5-4 down in the tie-break, allowing Boulter to easily dispatch the set on her first set point.
The LTA reports that Tomljanovic’s level improved in the second set, with the world No.64 reeling off six straight games to level at one set apiece and take a break lead in the third. However, she couldn’t find a way to pull away in the final set, with both players struggling on serve. Boulter held her nerve in the high-pressure moments, winning every break point she created for herself. In the end, she sealed her sixth break of the match in her final game to secure a hard-fought victory.
According to the LTA, Boulter’s win is a testament to her ability to deal with high-pressure situations, and she will come away pleased with how clinical she was on crucial points. As the tournament continues, Boulter will look to build on her momentum and make a deep run in the competition. With her sights set on improving her ranking, Boulter’s focus remains firmly on her own game, and she will look to make the most of her opportunity to shine on the big stage at Queen’s.
