Katie Boulter in the qualification rounds of the Miami Open, WTA Miami 2018
Katie Boulter in the qualification rounds of the Miami Open, WTA Miami 2018 | (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Boulter arrives at Montreal R1 with confidence against Tsurenko

By Ros Satar

  • Katie Boulter [Q] v Lesia Tsurenko
  • First meeting
MONTREAL, CANADA – The British No. 2 Katie Boulter kicks off British action in Montreal and could be just that little bit sharper than Lesia Tsurenko in the first round of the Coupes Roger.

 

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Katie Boulter [Q] v Lesia Tsurenko | First Meeting

After a week that has seen the established order of things in terms of British rankings change, Katie Boulter will be kicking off British action in Montreal when she takes on Lesia Tsurenko. The Ukrainian has had a long break since Wimbledon where she went out in the second round and will no doubt be relishing a return to the hard courts.

Lesia Tsurenko – 2017 Aegon Classic © Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

Already a winner this season in Acapulco, while her experience is head and shoulders above that of Boulter, her temperament can make her play fearless tennis, or be a total mess at the other side of the net.

We saw with Boulter over the grass court season that she pays a steady game backed up with a big first serve and tends to build her game around her forehand. That steadiness also translates to her own demeanour on court and she has played a fair few more feisty players, and come out on top.

She was gifted a walkover into the second round of qualifying but came from a set down to pick up her place in the main draw so she has already had some competition time on the courts here, and last week in the humid conditions of Washington.

She might be the one to spring the surprise, as Tsurenko starts her hard court summer.

Prediction: Boulter in three sets.

Boulter and Tsurenko are scheduled on Court 9, not before 2pm (7pm BST).