Katie Boulter has learned to relish the challenge of clay as she bids to take another major step forward at the Madrid Open. For much of her career, the former British number one actively avoided the surface, but it provided an unexpected fillip in a difficult 2025 and Boulter is determined to keep her improvement going.
Flying the British flag alone in the women’s singles in the absence of Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal, Boulter began her campaign in confident fashion in the Spanish capital with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Taylor Townsend. “I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite thing in the world,” said Boulter. “I do take challenges on a lot, I enjoy the challenge, I enjoy not being good at something and trying to work on it and get better at it.”
That test will come on Friday against fifth seed Jessica Pegula, where victory would be by a huge margin her best ever result on clay. Currently her biggest win on the surface came last week against 33rd-ranked Jaqueline Cristian in Rouen, where she made her first tour-level quarter-final on clay having unexpectedly won a WTA 125 event in Paris last spring.
“What’s pretty hilarious is that last year my clay season was my best,” said Boulter. “It’s not an easy surface so I’ve got to keep trying to love it and hope it loves me back.” The 29-year-old will also be in doubles action in an eye-catching partnership with Venus Williams. Boulter posed the question to the veteran American and was delighted to receive a positive response. “I put myself out there,” she said. “With someone like that you kind of hope they’ll say yes but you just never know. I’m very excited that she did say yes.”
