New British number one Boulter loses Japan semi-final
Katie Boulter lost 6-1, 6-4 to doubles world number one Katerina Siniakova in the Japan Open semi-finals, missing the chance to reach the final and challenge for her fifth WTA singles title. Despite the defeat, her run to the last four in Osaka means she is set to regain the British number one ranking from Sonay Kartal when the rankings are next updated.
Boulter, 30, had beaten Antonia Ruzic in the quarter-finals and rallied after losing the opening set, taking an early break in the second. Siniakova, also 30, broke back twice and won in 85 minutes, keeping alive her bid for a first singles title in four years. She will face 22-year-old American Ashlyn Krueger, the 2023 champion, who beat top seed Ann Li 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3.
In short
- Boulter lost her Osaka semi-final in straight sets.
- Her run is expected to return her to British number one.
- Siniakova will meet Ashlyn Krueger in the final.
Explained simply
Katie Boulter is a British tennis player who competes on the women’s professional tour, run by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). Players’ rankings are based on their results over a rolling period, so the British number one title can change as points are gained and lost.
Katerina Siniakova is a Czech player best known for her success in doubles, where she has been ranked world number one. Singles and doubles are separate competitions, and success in one does not guarantee the same results in the other.
The Japan Open is a WTA tournament in Osaka, part of the international tour on which players compete for titles and ranking points. A semi-final is the round before the final, and reaching it can still affect a player’s ranking even if they do not go on to win the tournament.