Just a few hours before the new year commenced, Katie Boulter stepped on to the RAC Arena in Perth determined to make a statement at the start of the season. Although she initially trailed America’s Jessica Pegula, the world No 5, by a set and a double break in their United Cup tussle, Boulter methodically turned the contest around with mature, controlled aggression to clinch the biggest win of her career.
After being ranked outside the top 150 in May, unable to remain fit and struggling to bring her best tennis away from the spotlight on the lowly ITF Tour, the 27-year-old finished the season having broken into the top 50, winning her first WTA title. She is now ranked No 57 and continues to develop a reputation as a danger to almost all of the top seeds.
