This video can not be played Boulter off to 'flying start' at Nottingham Two-time defending champion Katie Boulter was one of four Britons to advance at the Nottingham Open on day two. Britain's Boulter needed just 75 minutes to beat New Zealand's Lulu Sun 6-2 6-2 in the first round. Boulter saved all four break points she faced against Sun, who reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon as a qualifier last year. The Englishwoman was joined in the second round by Sonay Kartal, Francesca Jones and Welsh teenager Mimi Xu. Kartal, the British number three behind Emma Raducanu and Boulter, beat French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean 6-3 6-4. That came after Jones beat compatriot Harriet Dart 7-5 6-4 and Xu claimed her first WTA Tour main-draw win with a 6-3 6-3 victory over Katie Volynets. There is guaranteed to be at least one British player in the quarter-finals, with Boulter facing Kartal on Thursday. "I've played enough of them now," Boulter said of playing her compatriot. "I have so much respect for Sonay, she's an incredible tennis player. I've always said to her she's going to pass my ranking. "We played a really close match on grass quite a few years ago so I know it's going to be an absolute battle." Boulterspoke afterwardsabout the support she had received after speaking to BBC Sport about theonline abuse she and other players face. Elsewhere, Xu claimed an impressive victory over American Volynets, who is 254 places above her in the world rankings. Xu, 17, held firm in a second set that featured six breaks of serve to beat the world number 96 and set up a meeting with Poland's Magda Linette. "I had to trust in my game and in myself. I've been playing a lot on the grass, and I'm going to use that to my advantage," Xu said. "I love having no pressure on me, playing above my ranking." Meanwhile, at the grass-court event in Berlin, 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova beat world number six Madison Keys 7-5 7-6 (8-6). The win over Australian Open champion Keys is Vondrousova's first over a top-10 player this year as she continues her return from a lengthy shoulder injury. Queen's runner-up Amanda Anisimova also advanced, beating Bianca Andreescu 6-4 6-3. Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka struggled in her first grass-court match of the year, losing 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to Liudmila Samsonova. Osaka had three chances to break Samsonova at 5-5 in the second set but could not take them and the Russian then pulled away in the final set.
Boulter one of four Britons to win in Nottingham
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"Katie Boulter Leads British Success at Nottingham Open"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Katie Boulter, the two-time defending champion, had a strong start at the Nottingham Open, successfully advancing to the second round after defeating New Zealand's Lulu Sun in a decisive match. The match lasted just 75 minutes, with Boulter showcasing her skills by winning 6-2, 6-2. She demonstrated impressive defensive abilities, saving all four break points she encountered during the match. Boulter's victory was part of a successful day for British players, as she was joined by three compatriots—Sonay Kartal, Francesca Jones, and Welsh teenager Mimi Xu—who also progressed in the tournament. Kartal, ranked third among British players, overcame French qualifier Leolia Jeanjean with a score of 6-3, 6-4, while Jones secured her spot by defeating Harriet Dart 7-5, 6-4. Xu made headlines by achieving her first WTA Tour main-draw win against Katie Volynets, ranked significantly higher than her, with a score of 6-3, 6-3. This success ensures that at least one British player will reach the quarter-finals, as Boulter is set to face Kartal in the next round.
Boulter expressed her respect for Kartal, acknowledging their previous competitive encounters and indicating that their upcoming match will be a tough battle. She emphasized the importance of the support she has received, particularly in light of the online abuse faced by players in the sport. Meanwhile, Xu, only 17 years old, spoke about her strategy of trusting her game and leveraging her experience on grass courts to her advantage. The Nottingham Open is not the only grass-court event this week, as the tournament in Berlin saw notable performances from other players. 2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova defeated world number six Madison Keys, marking her first win over a top-10 player this year. In contrast, Naomi Osaka faced challenges in her first grass-court match of the season, losing to Liudmila Samsonova despite having opportunities to break in the second set. These developments highlight the intense competition and the potential for emerging talents to make significant strides in their careers on the grass-court circuit.
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