Katie Boulter advanced to the third round of the Miami Open, earning her first career victory at the WTA 1000 tournament. Unfortunately, her opponent Brenda Fruhvirtova was unable to continue their second-round match due to illness, with Boulter leading 7-6 (5), 1-0.
Although she retired, the British top player did not have an easy life. She was losing 5-3 in the first set to Fruhvirtova, a Czech young player who fell ill due to the humid weather. Boulter will compete against either the 11th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia or Diane Parry in the next round.
Boulter expressed that the scenario was challenging and she believed it would continue to intensify. She acknowledged her opponent’s previous match on the same courts, making it even more difficult for her to enter and play. This was an unfamiliar situation for her, and while she was happy to win, she didn’t want it to be under those circumstances. Boulter also recognized her opponent’s talent and predicted a successful future for her.
After an exceptional week of success, which included achieving her first WTA 500 championship in San Diego in late February and climbing into the top 30 for the very first time, Boulter had a tight schedule two weeks ago in California. Unfortunately, she was defeated in the first round at Indian Wells by Italy’s Camila Giorgi. However, with almost two weeks of training before her next tournament, Boulter entered the Miami Open as the 24th seed at her first WTA 1000 event. Her upgraded ranking also brought her a first-time bye at a WTA competition.
However, Boulter is now facing increased pressure from her competitors. She is no longer seen as an underdog, but a top contender, especially for up-and-coming players like 16-year-old Fruhvirtova. Fruhvirtova is one of the two players under 18 ranked in the top 140, along with Mirra Andreeva. Fruhvirtova’s record of 49-8 in the past year can be attributed to her court strategy, agility, and powerful two-handed backhand.
Fruhvirtova quickly expressed her intentions, gaining an early break in the match against Boulter and maintaining the lead for most of the set. Fruhvirtova began with strong hitting, consistent returns, and aggressive backhands, while Boulter struggled to keep up and made numerous errors. By the end of the first set, Fruhvirtova was up 5-3, but as she was about to serve for the set at 5-4, she suddenly felt ill.
During a break in the game, the Czech player requested medical assistance, but she still faced difficulties. While Boulter secured three consecutive games from a score of 3-5, Fruhvirtova’s team urged her to give up. However, Fruhvirtova showed determination and pushed forward, leading to a tie-break where she continued to challenge Boulter. Despite struggling with her shots, Boulter remained calm and eventually won the set. As the match became more of a challenge, the young Czech made the decision to retire.
Later, Boulter discussed the challenges of playing against an opponent with physical limitations. Boulter shared, “During the match, I noticed her coaches signaling for her to stop, but she didn’t. It was a complicated situation. One moment she was struggling to hit the ball in bounds, and the next she was running all over the court. It was a difficult mental game, and I found it challenging today. I wasn’t very supportive of myself, but I will take this experience and grow from it.”
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Dan Evans advanced to the second round of the Miami tournament on Thursday night after a tough 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Evans, who is currently unseeded and recovering from a calf injury that ended his 2023 season, will next compete against the 31st seed, Chris Eubanks, on Saturday.
