Boulter pulls another upset, wins San Diego Open
Katie Boulter, who was not expected to win, expresses her excitement and gratitude for her recent victory at the San Diego Open. She describes the experience as incredibly special and meaningful to her.
Katie Boulter, the top-ranked tennis player in Britain, has given a statement following her victory in the WTA 500 tournament, which marks her first-ever win of this kind. (Duration: 49 seconds)
On March 4, 2024, at 5:53 AM
Katie Boulter, who was not favored to win, has accomplished a series of unexpected victories and emerged as the singles champion at the San Diego Open. She defeated Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine, who was seeded sixth, with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 on Sunday.
Boulter, who has been touring for a decade now, has achieved her second singles title in the pro league. She managed to attain this victory by defeating five higher-seeded players consecutively in the WTA 500 event that continued for a period of one week.
"I just can't stop smiling," Boulter exclaimed. "Achieving this has always been my ultimate career goal, and now that I have accomplished it, I need to reevaluate my objectives and work hard to maintain this success."
As night crept in soon in the game - which was postponed twice due to occasional rain - both competitors seemed to experience difficulty acclimatizing to the unusual cold, gusty, and damp weather with a temperature of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
During her first appearance in the San Diego Open, Boulter struggled in the beginning of the first set due to several unforced errors. She was also taken aback by Kostyuk's impressive speed and agility. Nevertheless, Boulter displayed her determination and later proved to be resilient. She managed to fend off five set points before hitting a forehand shot that went out of bounds and causing her to lose with a score of 7-5.
Despite facing a challenge, Boulter persevered and was able to find her groove, allowing her to secure the second set. The set was characterized by intense rallies from the back of the court.
After approximately half an hour, Boulter found herself with an opportunity to win the match as she served at 5-2. With a well-executed crosscourt forehand, she hit the ball just beyond Kostyuk's range to secure the title for herself.
Boulter expressed her extreme joy by stating, "I don't even have a starting point to express how elated I am." She indicated that she had defeated six seeded opponents this year. When she first arrived, she did not have high expectations of winning the trophy. Boulter spoke highly of the warm reception she received from everyone at the event.
Talking about Marta, her 21-year-old opponent, Boulter stated: "You possess great talent, Marta, despite being so young. I firmly believe that you will achieve great things in the future."
Following the match, Kostyuk expressed her gratitude towards her family residing in Ukraine.
I don't want to bring a sombre mood, however, I would like to send greetings to my loved ones residing in Ukraine," she expressed. "They have encountered challenging circumstances and what the future may hold remains uncertain, but I know that no one is rooting for my triumph more than them."
Boulder was given a ceremonial surfboard as an award, which reflected the event's location near the Pacific Ocean. She expressed feeling comfortable with the cool weather.
"I apologize for not buying the surfboard this year," Kostyuk stated. "Perhaps I will purchase one in the upcoming year."
Taking place at the Barnes Tennis Center is the San Diego Open, which is a noteworthy WTA Tour 500 tournament. The entire prize for this competition amounts to $922,573 and is completely sponsored by Cymbiotika.
