🔗 Share this article

Britain's Katie Boulter states she believes she has to "choose between my physical health and my professional position" as the scramble persists for a place in next January's Australian Open primary competition.

While the standard WTA Tour season is over, there are still position points to be earned in Latin American countries, regional locations, multiple sites and European destinations.

The women's competitor lineup for the initial Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be calculated from the global standings of the December cutoff, which could cause a dilemma for competitors near the cut.

Physical Setbacks

Former British number one Boulter suffered an groin injury in her concluding competition of the year in Asian venues last timeframe, and is now considering whether to participate in the WTA 125 Challenger event in European venues, the European nation, in the first week of December.

The athlete's ongoing health concern, and the fact she would need to secure at least three matches in Angers to boost her ranking, means she may likely eventually not playing.

Varying Approaches

In comparison, men's competitors are not experiencing the equivalent dilemma, as for the initial instance the male Australian Open competitor lineup will be created from this week's rankings, which is the ATP's standard year-end ranking date.

The change is intended to discouraging competitors from seeking ranking points during what is basically the rest interval.

Coaching Changes

This year has been a challenging one for Boulter.

She achieved merely 14 Tour-level main-draw matches and currently parted ways with instructor Biljana Veselinovic after a lengthy partnership in which she won three WTA titles.

"Biljana is an exceptional trainer, and an extremely good individual as well, which creates situations particularly challenging," Boulter stated.

The quest for a new coach is currently ongoing, seeking an individual who has elite expertise as Boulter still believes she can be a top-20 competitor.

Future Goals

"Going forward with a replacement instructor, an important factor I'm absolutely certain on is that they are going to be a professional who has extensive expertise in how to succeed to the highest echelon of this sport," she said.

"I've been ranked as elevated as 23 and I am confident I can climb back there. I don't believe my standard has disappeared, I believe the steadiness should enhance.

"My aim is not merely to be ranked 50, forty, thirty, twenty - we've accomplished that. The objective is to be inside 20."