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Glenys Furness
Katie Boulter during All-Access Hour at the Natuew Valley Classic, WTA Birmingham 2018
Katie Boulter during All-Access Hour at the Natuew Valley Classic, WTA Birmingham 2018 | Jimmie48 Tennis Photography

Katie Boulter made the final in Southsea

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Katie Boulter made the final in Southsea
  • Didn’t drop a set en route
  • Only defeated by second seed
SOUTHSEA, UK – Katie Boulter continues her grass court run, making the final in the ITF event. Boulter has been impressing in the warm up to Wimbledon.

 

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Brit of the Week

Katie Boulter has impressed on the grass courts in the last few weeks on the build up to Wimbledon. The Brit entered the ITF event knowing entry to the Championship at Wimbledon was secure. The 21 year old had been granted a wildcard into the main draw.

In the first round in Southsea Boulter was up against Ekaterina Alexandrova. The Brit continued with her great grass court performances and broke the Russian in the first set, before holding on to take the lead. In the second set Boulter dominated the Russian, with Alexandrova struggling to hold serve. The Brit broke twice to seal the spot into the quarter-final 6-4, 6-2.

The quarter-final opponent was Slovakian Anna Karolína Schmiedlová. The Slovakian was no match for the Brit as Schmiedlová was unable to get anything on the Boulter serve, and struggled to hold. The first set saw the Brit take control and never look back. Another straight sets win saw the Brit into the semi-final 6-2, 6-0.

In the semi-final Boulter was facing American Jennifer Brady. The first set was reasonably close as the Brit was held by Brady. Boulter managed to secure the break of serve needed, and held on to the lead. In the second set it was very much more of the same, with the Brit coming out on top and booking a spot in the final 6-3, 6-3.

The final saw the Brit up against the second seed Kirsten Flipkens. The Belgian managed to break the Boulter serve and take the first set the Brit had dropped all event. The Belgian didn’t have things all her own way though, as the Brit re-grouped and fought back in the second set. Getting a break of serve on the Belgian the young Brit secured the second set and forced a decider.

In the deciding set, the Brit stayed close to Flipkens. Boulter was unable to prevent the Belgian breaking serve, and although fighting hard, it was the second seed who lifted the trophy. Boulter can be proud of her run in the grass courts to this point however, with Wimbledon up next the progress has been great to see.

 

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Challenger & ITF Round Up

Evan Hoyt was defeated by Lucas Miedler in the semi-final of Spain 6-4, 6-2.

Joshua Goodger was defeated by Aleksander Kovacevic in the first round of Tulsa 6-2, 6-2.

Charles Broom was defeated by Mateo Nicolás Martínez in the semi-final of Pittsburgh 6-3, 7-6(5).

Andrew Watson retired at the quarter-final stage in the Netherlands.

Mark Whitehouse was defeated by Romain Bauvy in the first round in Portugal 7-6(7), 6-7(4), 6-1.

Russell Henderson was defeated by Francisco Cabral in the first round in Portugal 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Emily Arbuthnott was defeated by Maria Gutierrez Carrasco in the first round in Sweden 6-0, 6-2.

Next week Brits play in London (Wimbledon), Spain, Canada, USA, Malaysia, Netherlands, Portugal & France