So, imagine this: Boulter’s been chilling at the top of British women’s tennis for what, like two years? But word on the street is Raducanu’s back, and she’s looking sharp. Could be we’re about to see these two going toe-to-toe for the top spot. And if you ask me, that’s gonna be popcorn-worthy.
Boulter seems all jazzed about it. “Chasing her is going to be fun,” she says. “I guess she’s been on my heels for a while. Now it’s my turn to flip the script.” Gotta respect that attitude. Oh, and she’s genuinely happy for Raducanu to be the numero uno. That’s classy.
Anyway, flashback to last year—Boulter snagged the title in Nottingham. She was trying to hit a seventh quarter-final on grass, and there were a bunch of high notes to cling to in the first set. Somewhere in there, she reckoned she played “some of the best grass court tennis” of her life. High praise, huh?
Her first serve? A real troublemaker for opponents. She’d been working on it—had a bit of a rough patch earlier in the week, I guess. In the blink of an eye, she’s up a double break, bags the first set. Then, just as things are getting interesting, bam! A rain delay. Classic.
The break in play didn’t do her any favors. By then, she was trailing 4-1 in the second set. Post-rain, she gets her serve broken again. Even after clawing one break back, Shnaider pushed to a deciding set.
And the final set? Oof. Boulter’s serving woes came back with a vengeance. She dodges a few break points, but double-faults and drops her serve. It just spirals from there. Shnaider’s cruising and sets up a meet with Madison Keys, who’s no slouch being the second seed and all.
But yeah, tennis. Unpredictable as ever, right?
