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French Open Day 3: Katie Boulter falters to condemn all six Brits to opening round exits

May 28, 2024

Katie Boulter was left to buck the trend of early British exits as compatriot Dan Evans lost out to Holger Rune today. The British Women’s No. 1 however was defeated by Paula Badosa in a frustrating but entertaining three set encounter. It completes a clean sweep of first round British exits with all six falling at the first hurdle.

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Boulter only won her first tour level match on clay last month in GB’s Billie Jean King Cup victory over France. Despite never reaching beyond the qualifiers at Roland Garros, Boulter, seeded 26, faced the stern test of former World No. 2. While the Spaniard has dropped outside the top 100, she still posed a significant challenge, with glimpses of the Badosa of old bleeding through during their cagey three-setter. 

Andy Murray, Harriet Dart and Evans admittedly faced difficult first round draws, it was Cam Norrie and Jack Draper whose surprise defeats left the British cohort bowing out with a whimper. 

Norrie faced World No. 57 Pavel Kotov in a strange match where the pair traded a handful of breaks with the Brit never quite being able to find his level. 

Despite a valiant attempt, Dart was undone by the power and precision of 19-year-old Linda Nosková, Murray was outclassed by the Stan Wawrinka backhand, and Evans pushed aside by Rune – not a set between them. 

Boulter was the last Brit left standing and took the opening set confidently 6-4. An early break in the second set saw her race to a 4-2 lead before Badosa reeled the Brit in and helped by a flurry of poor Boulter service games, levelled the match. 

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Opportunities came and came again for the British No. 1 but she failed to capitalise, often going for slightly too much and pushing her forehand wide. Badosa had the support of the crowd with a Spanish contingent draped in red and yellow, chanting and hauling her through the big points. 

Boulter’s first serve percentage sat below 30% in the early stages of the final set as she rushed the points and the errors began to fly. It was fortunate that Badosa, who’s struggled for fitness this year, was just as inconsistent and blazed her fair share long to keep Boulter in the tie. 

The pair managed to simultaneously bring the best and worst out of each other as they went from painting the lines and trading brutal backhands, to pushing long and dumping volleys into the bottom of the net.

It quickly became a match much more about resolve and character than anything else and with the two level at 4-4, it was Badosa who held bravely to pose another question to the Brit. 

A sixth double fault of the set gifted the former quarter-finalist two match points which she duly took at the first time of asking. While the Brit might be wise to remember her relative inexperience on this surface, she will be left rueing this missed opportunity to progress. 

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Fiery Kazakh and Boulter’s former doubles partner, Yulia Putintseva, awaits Badosa in the next round.

With late French Open withdrawals from Emma Raducanu and Jodie Burrage, British players have had a shoddy time of late and likely cannot wait to bid the red stuff goodbye. The green grass awaits with the Brits looking to get a head-start. A successful summer is needed to right the wrongs of this poor clay season.

Author

  • Sam France

    Sam France is an avid tennis watcher and player, frequently found passionately raving about the WTA. A journalist with a passion for all things sport, culture, and politics, Sam is a committed Radio 4 listener and continues to enjoy speaking about himself in the third person. He placed second in the FWA's Student Football Writer of the Year Award.