Katie Boulter: Road to the Rothesay Open Nottingham title
• 3 MINUTE READ
18 June 2023 – a date that will stick long in the memory of British No.1 Katie Boulter.
This would be the day that she became a WTA singles title-winner for the first time at the Rothesay Open Nottingham – just down the road from her hometown in Leicester.
Boulter became the third British woman to lift the WTA 250 trophy at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre, following on from Johanna Konta (2021) and Elena Baltacha (2010, 2011 & 2013).
This landmark milestone helped propel her back into the top 100 rankings before going on to reach the third round at Wimbledon and the US Open, lead the Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team to victory over Sweden, clinch a career-best win at the United Cup, and most recently, win the WTA 500 event in San Diego to become world No.27.
This week it has been confirmed that Boulter will be returning to the Rothesay Open Nottingham to defend her title as priority window tickets for the grass court season went on sale to Fan+ and Compete Advantage members.
So, what better time to take a look back at the 27-year-old’s journey to the 2023 title, ahead of what promises to be another action-packed week from 8-16 June.
First round: A comfortable win against Appleton
Boulter started her campaign at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre with the first of four wins against fellow British players.
The British No.1 wasted no time in beating qualifier Emily Appleton 6-1, 6-3 in a match lasting just an hour and 11 minutes.
Boulter broke Appleton on six of six opportunities to wrap up a comfortable victory and book her place in the second round – onto the next…
Second round: Taking down Snigur on Centre Court
Awaiting her in round two was Ukraine’s Daria Snigur, straight off the back of knocking out reigning champion Beatriz Haddad Maia in straight sets.
A tricky opponent on the grass, Snigur put up a strong fight against Boulter out on Centre Court using her unorthodox style to her advantage.
Despite going a break down in the opening set, Boulter was able to rally back and win 7-5, 6-3 to book her place in a third Rothesay Open Nottingham quarter-final.
This was the first time in history that four British players had reached the quarter-finals of a WTA event.
To be back on this court, it’s been a while and it’s been way too long so to be in front of my home crowd, it definitely has a special place in my heart - I really appreciate it.
Quarter-final: Victory over Billie Jean King Cup teammate
Next up was a familiar opponent in Harriet Dart.
Only two months prior, the two Brits had been teammates during a Billie Jean King Cup Finals qualifying tie against France, but now they would go head-to-head for a place in their first WTA semi-final.
Boulter came out the blocks flying and broke three times in the opening set, but as the match went on, Dart’s steely defence proved increasingly effective.
Dart held off multiple match points at 5-3, and 5-4 down in the second set, but in the end, Boulter managed to push herself over the line, claiming a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
"It was a battle out there,” Boulter said after the match. “You could see how much it meant to me to get through that match.
"It's awful playing a friend but I tried to play the ball and not the player. Today it was my day."
Semi-final: British No.1 reaches first WTA final
Inching ever closer to that maiden WTA final, Boulter went on to face another Brit in the form of Heather Watson.
Watson had been in imperious form all week – becoming the first player to reach the semi-finals having come through the qualifying rounds.
It wasn’t going to be easy for Boulter and so it proved to be as Watson’s experience and weather disruptions threatened to through the British No.1 off her game.
Boulter edged the opening set but soon found herself 4-1 down in the second, with Watson having four opportunities to stretch four games ahead.
However, the 31-year-old couldn’t find the killer touch to put her over the top and force a decider. Boulter won six of the last seven games to close out a 6-4, 7-5 win.
Final: Boulter crowned Nottingham champion
So, we arrive at the 18 June 2023, and the first all-British WTA final for 46 years between Boulter and good friend Jodie Burrage.
Any signs of nerves were quickly squashed by Boulter, who put in arguably her best performance of the week, hitting a total of 34 winners to beat her fellow Brit 6-3, 6-3 and take home the title.
“I dreamt of this moment as a little girl when I was training here at four or five years old,” she said in her post match on court interview.
“Coming here as a fan and now as a player, it means more than everything to me. I’m definitely going to be sleeping with this trophy tonight.”
Want to watch the defending champion back in action at the Rothesay Open Nottingham this summer? Sign up to become an Advantage Fan+ or Compete member to unlock priority ticketing access on Tuesday 12 March at 10:00.
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