Katie Boulter showcased her resilience and skill on Championship Sunday at the Rothesay Open in Nottingham, defending her title with two consecutive victories. The No. 30-ranked Boulter overcame 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu and former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova to claim her third career title and second of the season.
Reflecting on her triumph, Boulter shared, “Honestly, I came into this week with pretty low expectations, just coming out here and enjoying myself. To come out here and play some seriously good tennis and get over the line, I’m not entirely sure how I did it in the end. But I’ve gone back-to-back and I’m super proud of myself.”
A Marathon Day of Tennis
Boulter’s journey to victory was arduous. Her semifinal match against Raducanu resumed on Sunday after being suspended due to darkness on Saturday. The encounter began with a tightly contested first set lasting 80 minutes, which Raducanu edged out 7-6(13). Returning fresh on Sunday, Boulter mounted a strong comeback, winning 6-7(13), 6-3, 6-4, and taking her record against Raducanu to 2-0. The match totaled an exhausting 3 hours and 13 minutes.
Championship Showdown with Pliskova
In the final, Boulter faced Karolina Pliskova, who had earned her spot earlier in the day by defeating Diane Parry 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. The two players, well-matched in previous encounters, were set for another three-set battle.
Boulter started strong, breaking Pliskova early, but couldn’t maintain her lead as Pliskova fought back to take the first set 6-4. However, the Czech’s efforts over the past days seemed to catch up with her. Boulter seized the opportunity, leveling the match by winning the second set 6-3. In the decisive third set, Boulter broke Pliskova’s serve three times, ultimately winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 after 1 hour and 53 minutes of play.
Throughout the final, Boulter’s serving was formidable, out-acing Pliskova 8-3. Pliskova, known for her powerful serve, struggled with consistency, tallying seven double faults. Boulter’s aggressive play was evident with 31 winners against 28 unforced errors, while Pliskova managed 21 winners and 25 unforced errors.
This victory in Nottingham marks Boulter’s second title of the season, following her win on the hard courts of San Diego. Last year, Boulter’s first WTA Tour title at Nottingham had propelled her into the Top 100, establishing her as Britain’s leading female player.
Karolina Pliskova, expressing her admiration for Boulter and the Nottingham event, remarked, “This is a little bit of deja vu. I’m not entirely sure if I’m dreaming or if this actually just happened. It’s incredible to be here. It’s got a special place in my heart and it always will. It’s been an incredible week for me. Mentally tough after a hard clay-court season.”
