British No.1 Katie Boulter has responded in style to the growing threat from fellow Brit Emma Raducanu, who is rapidly closing the gap in the WTA rankings. On Tuesday, Boulter earned her first-ever WTA clay court victory, battling back to defeat Czech player Katerina Siniakova 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in Madrid.
The 28-year-old has faced a tough season so far, dealing with a foot injury that sidelined her for six weeks after the Australian Open. Since then, she’s played in just five events, causing her ranking to slide from a career-high No. 23 in November to No. 40.
Meanwhile, Raducanu—who reached the quarterfinals in Miami—has climbed back to No. 49 and will kick off her Madrid Open campaign against Suzan Lamens on Wednesday. Another rising Brit, Sonay Kartal, currently sits at No. 60, putting added pressure on Boulter’s top British ranking.
Despite the competition, Boulter insists she’s unfazed.
“I don’t feel any pressure at all,” she said before the tournament began. “I’m very comfortable in my seat, and I know that every single person has a different journey. My journey isn’t going to be compared to anyone else’s. I’m proud of that.”
Boulter has held the British No.1 spot since June 2023 and is preparing for her second career main-draw appearance at Roland Garros next month. Her previous outing at the French Open ended in a first-round loss to Paula Badosa.
Raducanu’s Return Continues
Raducanu is not just making waves with her on-court performances. She’s also gained attention for supporting Rafael Nadal during the Madrid Open and speaking candidly about her recent time away from tennis, as well as coaching updates.
With British women’s tennis heating up, all eyes will be on how the dynamic between Boulter, Raducanu, and Kartal unfolds over the clay season.
