Sports · Tennis · 1 hr ago
Katie Boulter reclaims British No 1 after reaching Japan Open semi-finals
Katie Boulter reclaimed Britain’s No 1 ranking by reaching the semi-finals of the Japan Open in Osaka.
The 30-year-old Briton came from a set and a break down to beat Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in almost two hours.
Two net-cords helped Boulter take the lead in the second set, but she then held on to win the match.
The run will lift Boulter to at least world No 48, back inside the top 50.
Sonay Kartal had taken the British top spot after reaching the final of the Wuhan Open, a major WTA 1000 tournament, last week.
Boulter next faces Katerina Siniakova in the Osaka semi-finals, while the other semi-final is between Americans Ann Li and Ashlyn Krueger.
Boulter has reached three semi-finals this season, including Queen’s, and won a title in Ostrava in February.
Katie Boulter reclaimed the British No 1 ranking after reaching the Japan Open semi-finals in Osaka.
She came back from a set and a break down to beat Antonia Ruzic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The result also means Boulter will return to at least No 48 in the world rankings.
She will face Czech player Katerina Siniakova in the semi-finals.
Boulter had ceded the British No 1 spot to Sonay Kartal five days earlier, after Kartal reached the Wuhan Open final.
- Who
- Katie Boulter beat Antonia Ruzic and reclaimed the British No 1 ranking.
- What
- Boulter reached the Japan Open semi-finals with a comeback win.
- When
- 23 October 2026.
- Where
- The Japan Open in Osaka, Japan.
- Why
- The win advanced Boulter to the semi-finals and lifted her above Sonay Kartal in the rankings.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Sonay Kartal took the British No 1 spot after reaching the Wuhan Open final.
Boulter beat Antonia Ruzic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the Japan Open semi-finals and reclaim British No 1.
Boulter is set to face Katerina Siniakova in the semi-finals.
- Tournament
- Japan Open, Osaka
- Match result
- Katie Boulter beat Antonia Ruzic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3
- British ranking
- Boulter reclaimed No 1 from Sonay Kartal
- Projected world ranking
- At least No 48
- Semi-final opponent
- Katerina Siniakova
4 sources
What people are saying
I got a bit lucky in the middle of the second set but I stayed really hard and I did well to stay there.
It's going to be a great match - I've got nothing to lose and I'm going to come prepared tomorrow.
She’s one hell of a player, really dangerous.