Katie Boulter Advances in Miami After Fruhvirtova Retires in Humid Conditions – Katie Boulter advanced to the third round of the Miami Open by securing her first career win at a WTA 1000 event. Her opponent, Brenda Fruhvirtova, retired from their second-round match due to illness while Boulter led 7-6 (5), 1-0. Despite facing a challenging start and trailing 5-3 in the opening set, the British No 1 persevered in humid conditions.
Boulter is set to face either Beatriz Haddad Maia, the 11th seed, or Diane Parry in the upcoming round. “It’s a tough situation. I felt like it was a match that I was going to get into more and more,” said Boulter. “She’s played a match on these courts, so I was always going to find it difficult to come in and play.” “It’s not a situation I’ve been in before, it’s something quite new for me. Obviously, to win a match like that, I’ll take it, but I don’t want to win like that.”
“She’s a young talent and she’s going to do very, very well in the future.” Following her stellar performance, clinching her maiden WTA 500 title in San Diego in late February and breaking into the top 30 rankings for the first time, Boulter encountered a swift transition two weeks ago in California, where she suffered a defeat to Camila Giorgi of Italy in the first round at Indian Wells.
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With almost two weeks dedicated to training between tournaments, she entered the Miami Open as a seeded player for the first time, ranked No. 24 in a WTA 1000 event. This elevated status also granted her a first-ever bye at a WTA event. However, the pressure on Boulter is increasing as well. No longer considered an underdog striving to compete at the highest echelons, she is now a formidable opponent, especially for up-and-coming talents like Fruhvirtova.
At just 16 years old, Fruhvirtova, one of only two players under 18 ranked within the top 140 alongside Mirra Andreeva, faces the challenge of facing seasoned players like Boulter. Fruhvirtova’s remarkable success over the past year, boasting a 49-8 record, is attributed to her strategic prowess on the court, agility, and a formidable two-handed backhand.
Fruhvirtova wasted no time in expressing her intentions, securing a break of Boulter’s serve right at the beginning of the match and maintaining a lead with a break for much of the set. While the Czech displayed early precision in her shots, executed effective returns, and capitalized on numerous backhands, Boulter faced difficulties as her mistakes accumulated.
Fruhvirtova surged to a 5-3 advantage in the first set, but just before serving for the set at 5-4, she suddenly began to feel unwell. During the change of ends, the Czech sought assistance from the doctor and physio, yet her struggles persisted. Despite Boulter rallying to claim three consecutive games from 3-5, Fruhvirtova’s team persistently urged her to retire.
Admirably, Fruhvirtova continued to battle fiercely, pushing the set to a tie-break and consistently unsettling Boulter. Despite Boulter’s struggle to find her rhythm, she remained composed during the crucial moments of the tie-break, narrowly clinching the set. With her challenges mounting, the young Czech ultimately chose to retire.
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Afterwards, Boulter explained how playing against a physically compromised opponent can be extremely difficult: “Halfway through the match, I’m seeing her coaches telling her to pull, but she’s not,” said Boulter. “There’s a lot going on. One minute she’s struggling to put the ball in court, and then the next point she’s running 10 shots side-to-side.”
“It’s a tough mental game and for me it was challenging today. I wasn’t the kindest to myself, but you live and learn.” Thursday evening saw Dan Evans advance to the second round in Miami after a grueling 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory against Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Evans, currently unseeded and striving to regain momentum in 2024 following a season-ending calf injury last year, is set to confront Chris Eubanks, the 31st seed, on Saturday.
