Boulter survives physical toll to reach French Open second round
Katie Boulter advances past Akasha Urhobo in three sets, setting up a clash with Anastasia Potapova, while Alex de Minaur progresses in the men’s draw.
Great Britain’s Katie Boulter has secured her place in the second round of the French Open, overcoming a challenging three-set victory over American wildcard Akasha Urhobo. The 29-year-old defeated her opponent 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted two hours and 10 minutes, marking only her second appearance in the second round at Roland Garros.
Boulter’s progress comes after a difficult period in her career. She dropped from world No. 24 to outside the top 100 in 2025 due to injury issues, a slump that also saw her lose the British number one ranking. Seeking a strategic reset, she parted ways with long-time coach Biljana Veselinovic and appointed Michael Joyce, the former coach of Maria Sharapova, in early 2026. This coaching change preceded a return to the top 100, bolstered by a WTA 250 title in Ostrava and a third-round run in Miami.
Despite the ranking disparity, with Boulter positioned 114 places above Urhobo, the match tested the Briton’s resilience on clay. Playing on the surface has historically been difficult for Boulter, who secured her first WTA Tour-level victory on clay only last year at age 28. Limited exposure to the surface has often left her vulnerable against lower-ranked opposition, a dynamic that played out in a scrappy contest characterised by 58 unforced errors from Urhobo compared to 35 from Boulter.
Boulter acknowledged physical limitations during the post-match analysis, citing cumulative fatigue and a potential illness. She noted that she was not at 100 per cent physically and had struggled with tiredness on practice courts in the days leading up to the match. Her ability to grind out the win, including a crucial break in the fourth game of the decider, highlighted her determination to embrace the clay-court challenge despite the physical toll.
In the men’s singles first round, Australian Alex de Minaur defeated Toby Samuel 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Samuel, ranked 159th, had climbed more places than any other player on the men’s tour over the past year after missing much of the 2024 season with arm injuries. The 23-year-old, who had previously dropped to nearly 2,000th in the rankings, now aims for a wildcard entry to the Wimbledon main draw.
Boulter’s next opponent will be Austrian 28th seed Anastasia Potapova. The result underscores Boulter’s ongoing adaptation to the demands of the clay-court season, as she seeks to maintain consistency following her recent resurgence in form.
