Katie Boulter Stages Remarkable Comeback to Claim Ostrava Open Crown
British tennis star Katie Boulter has delivered a stunning performance to win the Ostrava Open, marking her first WTA Tour title since 2024. In a hard-fought final, Boulter overcame Germany's Tamara Korpatsch with a score of 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, showcasing resilience and determination on the court.
A Triumphant Return to Form
This victory is particularly significant for Boulter, as it propels her back into the top 100 of the world rankings, a position she had slipped from down to 120. The win represents the fourth WTA title of her career, adding to her previous successes at the Nottingham Open (twice) and San Diego. Boulter's journey to this title was not without its challenges; she lost four consecutive games at the end of the first set and start of the second, but she rallied impressively, winning 12 of the next 15 games to secure the championship.
Reflecting on her achievement, the 29-year-old Briton expressed immense joy and relief. "It feels incredible. I've waited a long time for this one," Boulter said. "I've worked extremely hard after a really tough year, and it feels like I got the reward I deserved after putting so much work in. I'm absolutely thrilled. I just don't want to stop working. I've got a big year ahead of me. It's my wedding year, and that's going to be the best year of my life, no matter what happens." Boulter is set to marry Australia's world number six, Alex de Minaur, later this year.
Strategic Coaching and Tournament Dominance
Boulter's recent success can be attributed in part to her partnership with Michael Joyce, the former coach of Maria Sharapova, which began at the start of the year. Throughout the tournament in the Czech Republic, she demonstrated exceptional form, losing only two sets en route to the title. Her victory, sealed in exactly two hours, will see her climb to 84 in the updated world rankings.
This triumph comes after a period of struggle for Boulter, who had found tour-level wins scarce since Wimbledon last summer and suffered an abductor tear in her final event of 2025 in Hong Kong. Her ability to bounce back highlights her mental fortitude and dedication to the sport.
Match Analysis: Boulter's Commanding Performance
In the final against Korpatsch, Boulter faced early adversity but quickly regained control. After trailing in the second set, she won five consecutive games to take it 6-2 and established a 2-0 lead in the decider. Although Korpatsch held serve to narrow the gap to 2-1, Boulter dominated the remainder of the match, winning the next four games and breaking her opponent again at 5-1 to clinch victory on her second championship point.
Contrasting Fortunes for British Tennis
While Boulter celebrated her success, fellow Briton Emma Raducanu faced disappointment in the Transylvania Open final. Raducanu, the top seed, lost in straight sets to home favourite Sorana Cirstea, with a score of 6-0, 6-2, in just over an hour. This defeat denied Raducanu her first title since her historic US Open win in 2021.
Raducanu appeared fatigued from her marathon semi-final victory against Ukraine's Oleksandra Oliynykova the previous day. She struggled against Cirstea's powerful hitting, losing her opening service game after saving five break points and failing to win a game in the first set. Despite a brief resurgence in the second set, where she broke Cirstea to love and held serve to level at 2-2, Raducanu could not sustain the momentum, ultimately losing her serve six times in the match.
"It was great to be in a final again," Raducanu commented. "Sorana played great all week. She's in form for sure, and I'm really happy she was able to win this title at home. It meant a lot to her. I had a great week myself. I really enjoyed playing here. The crowd really made me feel like I was at home. It was a really special week for me. Today I didn't feel great, but it's not going to take away from my week."
Surprise Victory in Abu Dhabi
In other tennis news, the Abu Dhabi Open witnessed a surprising outcome as Czech qualifier Sara Bejlek claimed her first WTA Tour title by defeating Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6 (5), 6-1 in the final. The 20-year-old Bejlek's victory will see her rankings soar from 101 into the top 50, marking the best week of her young career and highlighting the unpredictable nature of professional tennis.
