Boulter relief at Beijing win after 'tough months'

Katie Boulter ended a difficult stretch on tour by defeating Hailey Baptiste in the first round of the China Open in Beijing, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4, to advance to the second round. The British No. 2 fought through a tightly contested match that swung late in the final set, earning a hard-fought victory that will see her take on Amanda Anisimova in the next round.

Boulter let a double-break lead slip in the final set but regrouped to close out the win, showing the resilience she has relied on through a turbulent few months. She acknowledged the tough period behind her and said she was pleased to be back in a position where she could fight for every point. Baptiste posed a disruptive challenge with her wide-ranging variety, but Boulter kept her focus and found a way to finish the job.

The win comes amid a year of mixed results for Boulter. She was knocked out in the second round at Wimbledon by lucky loser Solana Sierra and then fell in the opening round of the US Open to Marta Kostyuk. Still, she has shown moments of form, including a refreshed serve that helped Britain reach the Billie Jean King Cup semi-finals. In that tie, she contributed to a victory over Moyuka Uchijima but was defeated 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 by Jessica Pegula as Britain were eliminated by the United States.

Looking ahead, Boulter will face Amanda Anisimova, a former Wimbledon and US Open runner-up, in a match that will test her continued improvement under the Beijing conditions. Her run in the tournament will be watched with particular interest given the demands of the calendar and the ongoing effort to regain consistency in her game.

In other developments on the men’s tour, Novak Djokovic confirmed he will play in October’s Shanghai Masters, marking his first appearance there since his run to the final a year ago. Djokovic has repeatedly said he intends to slim down his schedule to protect his body in the final years of his career. The Shanghai event remains a key stop for many players seeking to balance form with health as the season approaches its closing stages.

On the broader ATP front, Jannik Sinner and world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz are also back in action this week, with Sinner returning to Beijing and Alcaraz set to compete in Tokyo. Both players have been managing schedules to optimize their peak performance as the year winds down, and their participation adds extra depth to a busy autumn slate.