Katie Boulter: World No. 75 Veronika Kudermetova ends Australian Open No. 1 hopes in second-round clash | Tennis News


Katie Boulter's hopes of a strong Australian Open run ended in disappointing fashion with a second-round loss to Veronika Kudermetova.

Seeded for the first time at Melbourne Park, Boulter looked like he had a good chance of breaking new ground and reaching the second week of a Grand Slam tournament.

But having survived a nail-biter in the first round against Rebecca Marino, the 22nd seed was unable to repeat the feat against Kudermet, going down 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-2.

Katie Boulter congratulates Veronika Kudermetova after her second round match at the Australian Open (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
picture:
Boulter congratulates Veronika Kudermetova

The loss will be particularly disappointing as Boulter has started the season so well in the United Cup, where she came extremely close to upsetting Iga Swiatek.

Kudermet has dropped to 75 in the rankings after a poor year, but she is a former top-10 player and caught a cold on Boulter's chilly evening in Melbourne.

The British No. 1 won just one of the first six games, but then came back, saving three set points at 5-2 in a run of four games in a row.

There was a long delay midway through that streak when Kudermetova called a trainer because of apparent tightness in her chest or back.

Fiancé Alex de Minaur, trying to stay incognito in a black hoodie and cap, cheered Boulter on, but Coudermet stopped a run of games against her to force a tiebreak and come out on top.

Boulter needed a good start to the second set and she got it, going 4-1 up, and seemed to be the more stable of the two in this battle for the first shot.

Boulter also looked dominant early in the decider but failed to find a break of Kudermet's serve and it was the Russian who hit in the sixth game before pulling away.

Katie Boulter failed to join Emma Raducan in the third round of the Australian Open after losing to Veronika Kudermetova
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Boulter took the second set in fine style

“I pride myself on going out every week and putting everything I have on the field,” Boulter said.

“I felt like I didn't quite get there today. Obviously, losing a match like that hurts, but I'm someone who will keep showing up.

“Of course, I want to participate in the Grand Slam, but, at the end of the day, I feel that it will come. It's only a matter of time.

“My level, when I think about it these last three weeks, it's already been above my normal level for a long period of time. If I keep putting it in every day, then I know I'm going to have my moment.

“I can't tell you if it's today, if it's a year from now, if it's the end of this year, if it's the middle of the year.”

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