Boulter's Dilemma Ahead of the Australian Open: "It's Like I Have to Choose Between My Body and My Ranking"

Having dropped to 100th in the world, Katie Boulter is not yet guaranteed a spot in the main draw of the 2026 Australian Open. The British player will have to make a decision quickly, torn between taking care of her body and playing tournaments to secure her place in Melbourne.

By Adrien Guyot

le 21/11/2025 à 13h03

Boulter

After a very mixed 2025 season, Katie Boulter will want to find her best form again next season. The Briton never made it past the second round of a Grand Slam this season, losing in the second round of the first three Majors (against Kudermetova in Australia, Keys at Roland-Garros, and Sierra at Wimbledon), before falling in the first round of the US Open against Kostyuk. However, apart from a title at the WTA 125 in Paris, the 29-year-old player only reached one quarter-final on the main tour, at Nottingham on grass, in 2025.

Her recent performances have not helped her maintain a high enough ranking to ensure direct entry into Grand Slam tournaments. Ranked 100th in the WTA rankings this week, Boulter is not yet certain to participate in the Australian Open.

If she decides to rest and start her season in Melbourne, she could lose even more ranking spots, whereas playing in the preparation tournaments for the season's first Grand Slam should allow her to earn enough points to play in the main draw in Australia. The dilemma is on Boulter's mind, though she seems to want to preserve her health in the coming weeks.

"If there are tournaments there, it gives you an opportunity, because you want to play in the main draw in Australia. I find myself in this difficult situation right now, and it's almost like I have to choose between my body and my ranking. I think I know the right decision to make, but it's hard, because it means that all the others will be playing during that time and overtaking me.

I think that (taking care of her body) would probably be the smartest thing to do. You have to know how to set limits and give players the chance to recover and prepare well for the season. I feel like this year we've seen a lot of cases of burnout, and many players on the ATP and WTA tours haven't played at the end of the year for mental or physical health reasons, and I think that contributes to it," Boulter told the BBC.