Boulter Embraces the Battle Without Pressure in British Tennis Race

No pressure, no panic as Boulter focuses on form—not rankings—in evolving British rivalry

For the best part of two years, Katie Boulter has quietly held the crown as Britain’s top-ranked women’s tennis player. But with a resurgent Emma Raducanu finding her feet again and the impressive rise of Sonay Kartal, that No.1 spot is now under real threat.

And yet, if you ask Boulter, the prospect of losing her place at the top of British women’s tennis barely registers on her radar.

“I don’t feel any pressure at all,” she told BBC Sport with a calm shrug that speaks volumes about her mindset. “I’m very comfortable in the seat that I am in, and I know that every single person has a different journey. My journey is not going to be compared to anyone else’s – and I’m proud of that.”

The British Battle Heats Up

At 28, Boulter is the most seasoned of the trio currently jostling for British supremacy. Since climbing to a career-high world ranking of 23 in late 2023, she’s slipped to 40 after a patchy, injury-disrupted season. That slide has opened the door for Raducanu—now back inside the top 50 after a solid run to the Miami Open quarter-finals—and Kartal, whose rapid ascent has seen her shoot up to 60th in the world.

It’s a proper three-way British battle, but if anyone’s expecting panic from Boulter, they’re likely to be disappointed.

She’s been here before. She’s weathered setbacks, shrugged off injuries, and quietly gone about her business with the kind of grounded perspective that doesn’t come easy on the often unforgiving WTA Tour.

“I’ve been the British number one for two years now—it’s been a fair while. It’s something I’m quite used to,” she added. And there’s a distinct pride in her voice when she says it, even if she insists she’s not clinging to the label.

A Season Stalled But Not Derailed

Katie Boulter not feeling pressure of being British number one at Wimbledon

Boulter’s 2024 season so far has been stop-start—more stop than start, if we’re being honest. After reaching the second round of the Australian Open in January, a nagging foot injury forced her out of action until March. She’s only been able to compete in five tournaments this year, winning five of her ten matches.

That’s not the kind of form she would’ve hoped for, especially coming off a strong 2023. But in her eyes, the level is still there—it’s just about being healthy enough to show it.

“For me, I just need to try and stay healthy. That’s the most important thing and then the ranking will take care of itself,” she said. “It’s not like my level has gone anywhere. I feel like my level is great, so now it’s about keeping myself healthy for the most important tournaments.”

That’s the mantra she’s sticking with as she heads into the clay season, starting with the Madrid Open, where she’ll face Czech player Katerina Siniakova in the opening round.

Clay: The Great Unknown

Katie Boulter unburdened by pressure of being British No 1 at Wimbledon

Boulter’s relationship with clay remains something of a mystery. It’s a surface she’s still learning to love—or at least understand. In her career so far, she’s only played four main-draw matches on the surface at WTA-level, and it’s fair to say it hasn’t always been smooth going.

Last week’s BJK Cup tie against the Netherlands, played on indoor clay, offered some promising signs. Boulter split her two singles rubbers before teaming up with Jodie Burrage to clinch a nail-biting deciding doubles and secure Britain’s spot in the BJK Cup Finals later this year.

After the tie, she skipped another WTA event and instead opted for a quieter week of training in Alicante, where her fiancé, Australian men’s star Alex de Minaur, is based. It was a chance to put in some focused work on the clay, in a setting she knows well.

“I just felt like it made more sense for me,” she explained. “I needed to manage things a bit better with my foot, and going straight into another tournament wouldn’t have been the best call.”

Tunnel Vision in a Crowded Field

While British tennis fans are understandably excited about the potential showdown for the No.1 spot, Boulter isn’t entertaining that storyline too much.

“I want to see the girls going higher and higher in the rankings. That’s a good thing,” she said. “But personally, I have my own goals and try to focus on those a lot.”

Those goals? Staying fit, finding rhythm on clay, and peaking at the right time—ideally for the big summer swing that includes Roland-Garros and Wimbledon, where she reached the third round last year and captured the imagination of the home crowd.

And if she does all of that? The ranking points will likely come, and with them, a renewed grip on that British number one position.

No Pressure, Just Perspective

The truth is, Boulter doesn’t need the pressure—she has perspective instead. She’s not a teenager anymore, chasing titles with tunnel vision. She’s been through injuries, seen the highs and lows, and carved out a career that’s not just about trophies or rankings, but resilience and personal growth.

So if Raducanu’s revival or Kartal’s surge sees either leapfrog her in the coming weeks, Boulter won’t be rattled. Because her focus is on the long game—and in that race, she’s right where she needs to be.