🔗 Share this article

British Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "pick between my physical condition and my professional position" as the scramble carries on for a spot in the upcoming January Australian Open main event.

While the regular WTA Tour competitive period is completed, there are still position points to be earned in Chile, regional locations, Ecuador and France.

The female entry list for the initial Grand Slam of the forthcoming season will be determined by the international positions of the December cutoff, which could cause a challenging situation for athletes close to the cut.

Health Challenges

Ex- British number one Boulter suffered an groin injury in her last tournament of the year in international locations last month, and is now considering whether to play in the WTA 125 development competition in European venues, the continental destination, in the initial week of December.

Boulter's recent injury, and the fact she would need to achieve at least several wins in Angers to boost her position, means she may well ultimately not participating.

Different Systems

In contrast, men's competitors are not experiencing the equivalent dilemma, as for the initial instance the male Australian Open competitor lineup will be drawn up from present week's standings, which is the ATP's standard annual-final position determination.

The modification is intended to discouraging players from seeking position points during what is essentially the break period.

Coaching Changes

This period has been a challenging one for Boulter.

She secured just 14 elite primary competition contests and recently split with coach Biljana Veselinovic after a lengthy collaboration in which she secured several WTA titles.

"Biljana is an outstanding coach, and an extremely quality human as well, which produces circumstances particularly challenging," Boulter commented.

The quest for a replacement trainer is well under way, looking for someone who has top-tier experience as Boulter maintains the belief she can be a elite-level athlete.

Future Goals

"Going forward with a different trainer, an important factor I'm very clear on is that they are going to be an individual who has a lot of experience in how to advance to the highest echelon of this profession," she stated.

"I've been placed as high as twenty-three and I know I can climb back to that level. I don't believe my standard has disappeared, I believe the steadiness must develop.

"My objective is not to be ranked 50, 40, thirty, twenty - we've accomplished that. The goal is to be among 20."