Katie Boulter secured a resilient straight-sets victory over Viktorija Golubic in the first round of the Hong Kong Open, advancing to the second round despite a disruptive incident that disrupted her rhythm. The British No 1, currently ranked 49th in the world, opened the match with a commanding performance, winning eight consecutive games after an early break by the Swiss opponent to take the first set 6-2. This result marks her fourth win in five matches, continuing a strong upward trajectory following her semi-final run at the Japan Open last month where she reclaimed the top spot in the British rankings from Sonay Kartal.
British No 1 battles back from double break to secure straight-sets victory over Golubic.
The match took a dramatic turn in the second set when Boulter, leading 5-2 and serving for the match, found herself twice broken. The British star admitted that a noise from outside the court during a crucial point “got under my skin,” leading to a complaint to the umpire when the point was not replayed. Despite the psychological blow and the momentum shift, Boulter remained composed, saving match points and forcing a tiebreak to close out the contest 7-6 (7-2). Her ability to recover from such a precarious position highlights the mental fortitude she has displayed throughout her recent surge in form.
Boulter’s victory over Golubic is her second win against the Swiss player in as many weeks, having also defeated her in Osaka two weeks prior. As the eighth seed in Hong Kong, Boulter now looks to build on this momentum and extend her winning streak further in the tournament. Fans can catch more top-tier tennis action as the ATP Paris Masters begins live coverage on Sky Sports from Monday, November 2, offering a seamless transition from WTA events to the men’s elite circuit.
Source: Sky Sports
