🔗 Share this article

British Katie Boulter states she believes she has to "decide between my physical health and my world standing" as the competition persists for a place in January's Australian Open main draw.

While the standard WTA Tour season is completed, there are still position points to be won in Latin American countries, neighboring countries, Ecuador and international tournaments.

The women's entry list for the opening Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be based on the world rankings of 8 December, which could present a challenging situation for players close to the qualification line.

Physical Setbacks

Ex- British number one Boulter tore an groin injury in her concluding competition of the year in Asian venues last timeframe, and is now weighing up whether to play in the WTA 125 secondary tournament in Angers, the continental destination, in the opening days of December.

The athlete's recent injury, and the fact she would need to secure at least three matches in the European event to boost her position, means she may well end up not playing.

Different Systems

In opposition, male athletes are not facing the equivalent predicament, as for the premier occasion the men's Australian Open participant roster will be created from current week's standings, which is the ATP's standard year-end ranking date.

The modification is intended to deterring players from chasing position points during what is basically the off-season.

Professional Adjustments

This season has been a challenging one for Boulter.

She won only 14 professional main-draw games and recently split with instructor Biljana Veselinovic after a three-year working relationship in which she won multiple WTA championships.

"Biljana is an exceptional trainer, and an remarkably quality person as well, which makes things extremely hard," Boulter commented.

The pursuit for a different coach is currently ongoing, looking for a professional who has high-level expertise as Boulter continues to think 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 someone who has considerable experience in how to make it to the peak performance of this sport," she said.

"I've been positioned as high as twenty-three and I am confident I can get back there. I am not convinced my level has diminished, I think the steadiness needs to develop.

"My objective is not to be placed fifty, 40, 30, 20 - we've achieved that. The goal is to be inside the elite group."