🔗 Share this article

British Katie Boulter says she feels she has to "pick between my body and my professional position" as the race continues for a place in January's Australian Open main draw.

While the regular WTA Tour season is completed, there are still position points to be won in Chile, regional locations, Ecuador and international tournaments.

The women's competitor lineup for the initial Grand Slam of the 2026 season will be based on the global standings of 8 December, which could cause a difficult choice for players close to the cut.

Health Challenges

Ex- British top-ranked player Boulter suffered an hip muscle in her concluding competition of the year in international locations last month, and is now considering whether to participate in the WTA 125 development competition in Angers, France, in the opening days of December.

Boulter's recent injury, and the fact she would need to achieve at least three matches in the French tournament to improve her position, means she may likely ultimately not playing.

Different Systems

In contrast, men's competitors are not confronting the equivalent predicament, as for the first time the male Australian Open entry list will be established from current week's rankings, which is the ATP's official year-end position determination.

The change is aimed at preventing athletes from chasing standing points during what is fundamentally the rest interval.

Professional Adjustments

This year has been a difficult one for Boulter.

She achieved merely 14 Tour-level primary competition contests and lately split with trainer Biljana Veselinovic after a extended partnership in which she secured three WTA titles.

"Biljana is an outstanding trainer, and an exceptionally good person as well, which creates situations particularly challenging," Boulter commented.

The quest for a replacement trainer is currently ongoing, seeking an individual who has top-tier experience as Boulter continues to think she can be a world-class athlete.

Future Goals

"Progressing with a replacement instructor, a key aspect I'm completely sure on is that they are going to be a professional who has considerable expertise in how to advance to the very top level of this profession," she stated.

"I've been placed as advanced as twenty-three and I believe I can return to that position. I don't think my level has gone anywhere, I believe the steadiness must improve.

"My aim is not to be positioned 50, forty, 30, 20 - we've been there. The goal is to be inside 20."