Katie Boulter: British No 1’s Australian Open hopes ended by world No 75 Veronika Kudermetova in second-round clash

Katie Boulter’s hopes of a strong Australian Open run ended in disappointing fashion with a second-round loss to Veronika Kudermetova.

Seeded for the first time at Melbourne Park, Boulter looked to have a good chance of breaking new ground and reaching the second week of a Grand Slam tournament.

But, having survived a nail-biter in the first round against Rebecca Marino, the 22nd seed could not repeat the feat against Kudermetova, falling to a 7-6 (7-3) 2-6 6-2 defeat.

The loss will be particularly disappointing because Boulter had begun the season so well at the United Cup, where she came extremely close to upsetting Iga Swiatek.

Kudermetova has slipped to 75 in the rankings after a poor year but she is a former top-10 player and caught Boulter cold on a chilly Melbourne evening.

The British No 1 won only one of the first six games but then mounted a comeback, saving three set points at 5-2 in a run of four games in a row.

Midway through that sequence there was a long delay when Kudermetova called the trainer for apparent tightness in her chest or back.

Fiance Alex de Minaur, trying to stay incognito in a black hoodie and cap, cheered Boulter on but Kudermetova stopped the run of games against her to force a tie-break and was the better player in it.

Boulter needed a good start to the second set and she got it, moving 4-1 ahead, and she appeared to be the steadier of the two in this first-strike battle.

Boulter also seemed in the ascendancy at the start of the decider but she could not find a break of the Kudermetova serve and it was the Russian who struck in the sixth game before pulling away.

Jabeur overcomes asthma attack to win as Rybakina and Svitolina cruise

Three-time Grand Slam runner-up Ons Jabeur broke down in tears after struggling with asthma during her second-round clash with Camila Osorio

The Tunisian left the court for medical attention after just three games before recovering to beat Osorio 7-5 6-3 at Melbourne Park.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina registered her 50th win in a Grand Slam main draw singles match when she beat American qualifier Iva Jovic 6-0 6-3.

Elina Svitolina cruised into the third round with a straight-sets win over Caroline Dolehide, beating the 14th seed 6-1 6-4, and will face the winner of Renata Zarazua and Jasmine Paolini in the next round.

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