Katie Boulter close to huge rankings breakthrough after stunning Eastbourne win

Katie Boulter is potentially just one win away from hitting a new rankings milestone after an impressive win at the Eastbourne International.

World No 32 Boulter overcame late nerves to reach round two on home soil on Tuesday, edging past the experienced Petra Martic 6-1, 7-6(8) on Centre Court.

And she backed that up on Wednesday by shocking fifth seed and 2021 champion Jelena Ostapenko , prevailing 6-4, 7-5 in a hard-fought contest against the former French Open champion.

It was a hugely impressive win for the 27-year-old, who is into the quarter-final of the WTA 500 event for the first time in her career.

“Honestly, I was just trying to slap a little harder than she was,” Boulter said.

“She’s so tough to play against, you never know what is going to happen and it’s completely in her control.

“I wasn’t sure what to expect coming into this grass-court season, I’m out here having fun and enjoying myself.”

It has already been a landmark grass-court season for the British No 1, who will be one of the faces of Wimbledon when the Championships begin in less than a week.

Having claimed her first WTA title at the Nottingham Open twelve months, Boulter overcame Emma Raducanu and Karolina Pliskova in consecutive matches to successfully defend her title.

That was a third WTA title for the 27-year-old and, after results went her way at the Birmingham Classic, she will be seeded at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time when action begins at the All England Club.

World No 32 Boulter will be the 32nd seed in the women’s singles draw, one of only two British players seeded in the singles draws – the other being Jack Draper in the men’s draw.

However, by reaching the last eight, Boulter is projected to rise back into the top 30 when the WTA Rankings update next Monday.

The live rankings put her 28th as it stands, just one short of her career-high of world No 27, achieved earlier this season.

However, currently on 1,748 points, she will move up to 1,835 points with victory in Thursday’s quarter-final.

And, as it stands, that would be enough to move her to world No 25 in the live rankings – a new career-high, and see her ranked inside the world’s top 25 for the first time.

There are variables to that ranking, which includes not only her winning that quarter-final contest, but also what other players can do in Eastbourne – or at the WTA 500 event in Bad Homburg.

However, it is clear that the star has her rankings destiny in her own hands, and could receive a huge confidence boost ahead of action at her home Grand Slam.

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