Katie Boulter in the first round of the 2023 US Open, New York
Katie Boulter in the first round of the 2023 US Open, New York | (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Tennis | US Open 2023 | Katie Boulter advances comfortably to second round in New York

By Ros Satar

  • Katie Boulter def Diane Parry 6-4 6-0
  • Boulter v Wang Yafan
  • H2H: First Meeting
NEW YORK, USA – British No. 1 Katie Boulter booked herself into the second round with ease, where she will face Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan.

 

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Katie Boulter def Diane Parry 6-4 6-0

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Katie Boulter kick-started a day of British success against the Diane Parry. In a competitive first set, Boulter was the first to break through and then immediately had to fend off three break points on her own serve. That momentum carried her through to serve out the first set to love.

From that point, she never looked in danger of losing her serve until the very last game, as she steam-rolled the French woman, saving one solitary break point in the final game before taking her first match point to deliver a bagel.

Meanwhile Chinese qualifier Wang Yafan downed seventh seed Caroline Garcia to be Boulter’s next opponent.

 

Katie Boulter v Wang Yafan [Q] | H2H: First Meeting

Katie Boulter v Diane Parry H2H: Boulter leads 1-0
US Open New York, USA
Hard (O) Prize Money: $123,000
First on Court 5 at 11am (4pm BST) Sky <- Subscription required

 

Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2022)

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H2H: Katie Boulter (WR 61) Wang Yafan (WR 114)
Tournament Previous Best R1 (2021) R2 (2016, 2018)
1st Serve Return Points Won % 42.1 42.0
Return Points Won % 47.8 49.7
Break Point Conversion % 51.1 60.7
Break Points Saved % 50.0 68.2
Total Points Won % 53.5 56.4

Although Boulter is ranked above Wang, the stats favour the Chinese player, and anyone thinking this will be a breeze for Boulter ought to remember that Wang has already had three solid wins under her belt in qualifying and has been to the second round twice.

 

 

Playing Styles & Prediction

Former top-50 player Wang has been putting in the hours mainly on the ITF circuit this year reaching seven ITF finals and winning six of them before winning in Stanford (coming through qualifying too) before the US Open. This makes her match fit but could also be susceptible to fatigue.

Boulter played some of her best tennis since the grass court season, but admittedly against a player than lacks her firepower. In Yafan she will meet a wall of defence, and experience.

Wangs’ steadier stats are born out across the year, considering the ITF results. But she has also been in these situations a lot more than the Brit. It is winnable for Boulter, but this might be one that tests her.

Prediction: Boulter in three sets.

 

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