Katie Boulter Battles Through Tough Match Against Rebecca Marino

MELBOURNE, Australia — British No. 1 Katie Boulter overcame a spirited challenge from Canada’s Rebecca Marino in a hard-fought three-set match at the Australian Open on Tuesday, securing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory to advance to the second round.

Boulter, the 22nd seed, started strongly, using her precision and court coverage to dominate the first set. However, Marino, known for her powerful serve and aggressive baseline play, fought back in the second set, breaking Boulter early and maintaining her momentum to level the match.

“It was a real battle out there,” Boulter said after the match. “Rebecca is such a tough opponent, and she really pushed me to my limits. I had to dig deep and stay focused.”

The deciding set saw both players trading breaks, but Boulter’s composure under pressure proved decisive. She broke Marino in the ninth game and served out the match to love, sealing the win with a forehand winner.

Daniel Kiernan, a former British tennis player and commentator, noted Boulter’s resilience. “Katie showed great mental strength today,” he said. “She adapted her game when she needed to and found a way to win.”

Elsewhere in the tournament, 18-year-old Brazilian qualifier Joao Fonseca stunned ninth seed Andrey Rublev in straight sets, 7-6(1), 6-3, 6-4. Fonseca, making his Grand Slam debut, displayed remarkable composure and shot-making ability, leaving Rublev frustrated and unable to counter the young star’s aggressive play.

Australian hope Alex de Minaur also advanced, defeating Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. De Minaur, known for his speed and tenacity, controlled the match from the baseline and capitalized on his opponent’s errors to secure a straight-sets victory.

In other results, Frenchman Corentin Moutet defeated Australian Alexei Popyrin in four sets, while Veronika Kudermetova and Daria Saville also progressed in the women’s draw.

The tournament continues on Wednesday, with Boulter set to face a tough challenge in the next round as she aims to build on her strong start to the season.