Katie Boulter Upsets Linda Noskova at Japan Open

Osaka, Japan – British number three Katie Boulter advanced to the second round of the Japan Open on Monday, October 13, after defeating Czech professional Linda Noskova, the tournament’s second seed. Boulter, currently ranked 59th in the world, won the match with a score of 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in one hour and 36 minutes.

The match started competitively, with both players struggling to hold their serve in the first set. However, Boulter excelled in the tie-break, establishing an early advantage. In the second set, she vastly improved, winning 78% of points on her serve compared to just 51% in the opener.

“I’m really pleased with my performance today. It’s been a difficult few weeks,” Boulter said after the match. “I just tried to bet on myself – to commit to the ball and go for it. Against someone like that you have to win the match; they’re not going to lose it.”

Boulter’s victory was particularly significant as it marked her first win against a top-20 player since she defeated Paula Badosa at Wimbledon in July. She had entered the tournament following a challenging summer, which included five opening-round losses in seven tournaments, leading to a drop in her ranking.

Next, Boulter will face Romania’s Sorana Cirstea in the second round. Cirstea advanced after coming back to defeat Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 2-6 6-4 6-2.

The tournament’s top seed, Naomi Osaka, also moved into the second round with a 6-0 6-4 victory against Japanese wild-card Sonobe Wakana. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is competing in the Japan Open for the first time since 2017.