Katie Boulter, the British No. 2 tennis player, suffered a disappointing first-round exit at the US Open 2025, losing 6-4, 6-4 to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk on August 26, 2025. The defeat, which extended Boulter’s struggles after a promising start to the season, drew a controversial remark from tennis legend Martina Navratilova, who suggested during Sky Sports coverage that Boulter should “get married, have babies, and be done with it” rather than continue her tennis career. The comment, aimed at Boulter’s recent engagement to Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur, ignited a firestorm of criticism from fans and analysts, who called it outdated and dismissive of Boulter’s professional ambitions. Here’s a detailed look at the controversy, Boulter’s response, and how fans in the UK, USA, Australia, and Nigeria can follow her next steps, as of 12:06 AM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
Navratilova’s Remark and the Backlash
During Sky Sports’ coverage of Boulter’s loss to Kostyuk, Navratilova, an 18-time Grand Slam champion, was discussing the 29-year-old’s recent struggles alongside co-pundit Ryan Harrison. Harrison suggested Boulter should focus on playing more matches to regain form, stating, “If you’re Katie Boulter, you’ve got to try and do everything you can to finish the season strong. She’s been struggling for form a little bit, she’s going to have to get that match count up.” Navratilova, however, took a different tack, quipping with a laugh, “Or maybe just get married, have babies, and be done with it. No more stress.” Harrison pushed back, noting, “That’s no more tennis stress, right? Because you have a little baby running around, it’s a different sort of stress” (Express.co.uk,; Yahoo Sports,).
The comment, made in the context of Boulter’s engagement to de Minaur in December 2024, was intended as a jest but drew immediate backlash. Social media erupted, with X user @robert_legge calling it “a shame” and praising Boulter as “a fantastic player and an amazing ambassador for British women’s tennis” (PRIMETIMER,). Another user wrote, “It is easy to kick someone when [they’re] down and every player goes through times like this,” condemning Navratilova’s remark as insensitive (Us Weekly,). Critics argued the suggestion reinforced outdated gender stereotypes, implying Boulter’s career should take a backseat to motherhood, especially given her age and recent struggles.
Boulter’s US Open 2025 Performance and Struggles
Boulter, ranked world No. 48 entering the US Open, started 2025 in the top 25 but has been hampered by form and fitness issues, failing to replicate her 2024 success, which included WTA titles in San Diego and Nottingham. Against Kostyuk, the No. 27 seed, Boulter saved five match points but was undone by eight double faults and a lack of rhythm, losing in straight sets. The defeat marked her first first-round exit at the US Open in four years and is likely to push her out of the top 50, per EssentiallySports ().
Despite the loss, Boulter remained optimistic, telling reporters, “I’m actually really excited. I feel like I’ve got this buzz back again, which I lost a couple weeks ago [at Montreal’s National Bank Open]. I personally would say it was a really pivotal moment in my career” (Yahoo Sports,). She highlighted ongoing issues with her serve, stating, “I need to address the serving. We’ve been trying so many different things but nothing is quite working yet. If I can sort that, everything else will fall back into place” (AOL.com,). Her resilience was evident after snapping a four-match losing streak in Cleveland the previous week, signaling a potential rebound.
Boulter and de Minaur: A Tennis Power Couple
Boulter and de Minaur, ranked No. 8 in the ATP, announced their engagement in December 2024, cementing their status as tennis’s latest power couple. The pair, who began dating in 2020, have shared playful banter about their relationship, with Boulter joking on X about marriage and babies boosting players’ success after Madison Keys and Belinda Bencic’s strong post-personal-milestone performances (tennishead.net,). Their chemistry, both on and off the court, has been a fan favorite, with de Minaur supporting Boulter through her struggles, notably advising her after a 2024 Wimbledon loss: “One match doesn’t define your career” (The Australian Women’s Weekly,).
Navratilova’s comment referenced their engagement, with Boulter and de Minaur openly discussing wedding plans for a potential 2026 date (EssentiallySports,). However, Boulter’s focus remains on tennis, with no indication of retirement. She told reporters, “I really feel like I regrouped and started building again. I feel like I’m me again,” highlighting her determination to continue competing (Express.co.uk,).
Context: Navratilova’s History of Witty Jabs
Navratilova’s remark aligns with her history of candid commentary, often laced with humor. Earlier in 2025, she critiqued Boulter’s serve at Wimbledon, joking about “balltoss-itis” (EssentiallySports,). While her “have babies” comment was meant as a lighthearted jab, it misfired given Boulter’s recent struggles and the sensitive timing post-loss. Navratilova, who adopted two young boys with her wife, Julia Lemigova, in August 2024, may have intended to highlight life beyond tennis but underestimated the public’s reaction (Us Weekly,).
What’s Next for Boulter?
Boulter is expected to regroup for the remainder of the 2025 season, potentially targeting WTA events in Asia, such as the China Open (September 2025), to rebuild her ranking. Her focus on fixing her serve, possibly with a specialist coach like Coco Gauff employed, will be critical, as she acknowledged post-match (Express.co.uk,). With de Minaur also competing at the US Open, reaching the third round, their mutual support could bolster her recovery.
Fan reactions on X are mixed, with some defending Navratilova’s humor (“It was just a joke, chill,” @TennisLad) and others slamming it as “disrespectful to Katie’s grind” (@WTAFanatic). Boulter’s resilience and de Minaur’s backing suggest she’s far from ready to retire, focusing instead on reclaiming her top-25 form.
Looking Ahead
Navratilova’s controversial remark has spotlighted Boulter’s challenges, but her post-match optimism and de Minaur’s support signal a fighter unwilling to quit. As she works to fix her serve and climb the rankings, the tennis world will watch whether she can silence critics and prove her worth on the court. For updates, visit wtatennis.com, express.co.uk, or skysports.com, and follow @WTA or @KatieBoulter on X for real-time reactions. Boulter’s next steps will test her resilience, but her determination suggests she’s far from ready to “have babies and be done with it.”
