By Marc Pulisci After clinching the most significant trophy of her career, the new world No 27 exudes a newfound sense of liberation that elevates her as a formidable contender. In a pivotal moment during her quarter-final triumph against Donna Vekic in San Diego last week, Katie Boulter found herself in a relentless battle. Maneuvering from one side of the court to the other, she relentlessly chased after each ball, determined to prolong the rally. Following a grueling exchange of 24 groundstrokes, Boulter swiftly reached a delicate drop shot, effortlessly returning it with a powerful forehand winner to seal her victory.
A year ago, it would have been difficult to imagine Boulter winning such points against top opposition. While the potency of her serve and clean, vicious groundstrokes have never been in doubt, whenever she was forced out of position at the highest level, her defensive weaknesses were laid bare.
The manner in which she secured victory against Vekic encapsulated the continuous growth that has propelled the 27-year-old to her greatest career milestone. Culminating an outstanding week in San Diego, she clinched her inaugural WTA 500 title by overcoming Marta Kostyuk with a remarkable 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Sunday. Boulter now holds the 27th spot in the WTA rankings, a significant rise from her previous career peak of 49. As she prepares for Indian Wells, a premier event on the tennis calendar, she stands among the top 30 players globally, solidifying her status as one of the finest in the world.
Boulter’s ascent is a testament to her perseverance and patience. It has been nearly five years since she entered the Top 100 and joined the WTA Tour, only to face the setback of a stress fracture in her back. This injury sidelined her for seven months, causing her ranking to drop out of the Top 100, plummeting as far as No. 441 by February 2020.
Since then, Boulter has quietly impressed. While there haven't been any standout performances until this week, she has consistently outperformed lower-ranked opponents and challenged herself against the best. With the opportunity to focus solely on the WTA Tour for an extended period, competing at the highest level week after week has offered numerous valuable lessons. Despite facing numerous injury setbacks throughout her career, she has learned to effectively manage her body by enlisting the help of a personal physio, Rory Mee, and adapting to the demands of the rigorous tour schedule.
Having already climbed 100 ranking spots last year to secure a top 50 position, Boulter's mindset stands out as remarkably strong. While she could have been content with her progress, she remained driven by the feeling that she had not yet reached her full potential. "Regardless of how pleased I may be with my performance this year, I believe it motivates me even further and ignites a greater hunger for the upcoming year," she expressed after her final match last season. "It has instilled in me a strong belief that I deserve to compete at this level, and I truly envision myself ascending in the rankings."
At her first tournament of the year, the United Cup, Boulter demonstrated her readiness by defeating the world No. 5 Jessica Pegula. This victory marked a new level for her as she had never before triumphed over multiple top-50 opponents in a single tournament. In San Diego, she achieved a remarkable feat by defeating five consecutive top-50 players, including a notable win against the No. 13-ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia. This victory marked her fourth career win against a top-20 player.
Enhancing her movement and physical resilience, the British No. 1 collaborates with her coach, Biljana Veselinovic, to strategically execute her powerful groundstrokes. She now adeptly utilizes angles to dominate the court, a shift from her previous linear style. Despite facing numerous challenges to reach the pinnacle of her sport, Boulter now exudes a newfound freedom that elevates her game to a formidable level of play.
As Boulter accepted her most significant career trophy on Sunday night, she acknowledged the support of her boyfriend, Alex de Minaur, who watched from the stands. Just a day before, De Minaur claimed victory over Casper Ruud with a 6-4, 6-4 win to secure an ATP 500 title in Acapulco. He then swiftly flew to San Diego in the early hours of Sunday morning. Both athletes have showcased the pinnacle of their tennis skills this year, evidently spurring each other on. It will be captivating to witness the heights they can achieve together.
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