Katie Boulter is looking to turn her fortunes around after a mixed year that has seen her ranking drop to No. 100 in the world, and her aim is to be in the Top 20 by the end of next season.
I’m in 23rd place and I know I can get there again. I don’t think my level has gone anywhere, I think consistency needs to be improved. My goal is not to rank 50, 40, 30, 20 – we’ve been there. The goal is to get within 20. Katie Boulter
With her chances of an automatic main draw entry for the Australian Open fading, the former British No. 1 will likely have to try to qualify as the women’s list for the first Grand Slam of the 2026 season will be based on the December 8 world rankings, which could pose a dilemma for players close to the cut.
While 104 players will receive direct entry into the Melbourne draw, this also applies to those with protected rankingsmeaning Boulter, who suffered a hip injury in October, could miss out despite currently occupying 100th spot.
“If there are tournaments there it gives you a chance because you want to get to the main tournament in Australia,” 29-year-old Boulter told the BBC Sport website earlier this week. “I’m in this predicament myself right now, and it’s almost like I have to choose between my body or my ranking.
“I think I know what my own right choice is, but it’s difficult because it means everyone else will play and pass me.”
Although the regular WTA Tour season is officially over, ranking points are still up for grabs in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and France.
The men, on the other hand, no longer face the same dilemma as their entry list for the Australian Open is drawn up for the first time based on this week’s rankings, the official end date of the ATP rankings.
The change is intended to discourage players from chasing ranking points during what is essentially the offseason.
“I think that would probably be the smartest thing to do,” Boulter continued. “There has to be a limit somewhere and you give people the chance to recover and start a good pre-season.
“I feel like we’ve seen so much burnout this year and so many people not playing at the end of the year because of mental health issues and physical issues, and I think that’s contributing to that.”
Boulter ripped a captor last month in her final event of the year in Hong Kong, and is now considering whether to compete in the WTA 125 event in Angers, France, in the first week of December.
© Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Currently ranked at British number 5, Boulter has endured a combination of injuries and poor form, but she still has a chance to improve her ranking if she decides to play.
However, due to her recent injury and the fact that she would need to win at least three matches in Angers to improve her ranking, this means she may not play again, which could mean she will have to win three qualifying rounds if she wants to reach the main draw at Melbourne Park for the sixth time in her career.
She won just fourteen main draw matches at Tour level this season and recently split with her coach Biljana Veselinovic after a three-year partnership in which she won three WTA titles.
“Biljana is an incredible coach and also an extremely good person, which makes things very difficult,” Boulter said. “I think it was just time. I think we both felt like it was the right thing to do. We accomplished so much together.”
“I’m still going to spend a lot of time talking to her, I think she’s a big part of my team anyway.”
Boulter’s form has dipped after being ranked in the Top 25 in the world, but she believes she can get into the Top 20, and now, as she searches for a new coach, that will be her goal for the 2026 season.
“As I move forward with a new coach, I am very clear about one thing: it will be someone who has a lot of experience in how to reach the very highest level of this game,” Boulter explained. “I’m in 23rd place and I know I can get there again.
“I don’t think my level has gone anywhere, I think the consistency needs to be improved. My aim is not to be ranked 50, 40, 30, 20 – we’ve been there. The aim is to get within 20.”
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