Body versus Ranking - Katie Boulter's Melbourne Grand Slam Predicament
British Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "choose between my body and my ranking" as the race persists for a place in the upcoming January Australian Open main event.
While the regular WTA Tour tournament schedule is finished, there are still ranking points to be earned in Chile, regional locations, Ecuador and international tournaments.
The female competitor lineup for the initial Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be based on the global standings of early December, which could present a dilemma for athletes approaching the cut.
Physical Setbacks
Previous British top-ranked player Boulter tore an hip muscle in her last tournament of the year in Asian venues last timeframe, and is now evaluating whether to participate in the WTA 125 Challenger event in French locations, the European nation, in the initial week of December.
Boulter's ongoing health concern, and the fact she would need to achieve at least multiple victories in Angers to enhance her ranking, means she may well ultimately not playing.
Different Systems
In contrast, male players are not facing the equivalent predicament, as for the initial instance the male Australian Open entry list will be established from present week's positions, which is the ATP's standard annual-final ranking date.
The modification is intended to preventing athletes from seeking position points during what is essentially the rest interval.
Professional Adjustments
This period has been a difficult one for Boulter.
She won only 14 Tour-level major tournament games and lately separated with trainer Biljana Veselinovic after a lengthy collaboration in which she secured several WTA titles.
"Biljana is an exceptional coach, and an exceptionally good individual as well, which makes things very difficult," Boulter stated.
The pursuit for a new instructor is actively progressing, seeking a professional who has elite expertise as Boulter continues to think she can be a top-20 player.
Future Goals
"Going forward with a different trainer, an important factor I'm very clear on is that they are going to be a professional who has a lot of knowledge in how to advance to the very top level of this profession," she said.
"I've been ranked as advanced as 23 and I believe I can return to that position. I am not convinced my level has gone anywhere, I believe the consistency should develop.
"My aim is not to be positioned 50, 40, 30, 20 - we've achieved that. The aim is to be inside the top twenty."