Katie Boulter is in the WTA 500 semi-finals for the first time after beating Croatia’s Donna Vekic in straight sets at the San Diego Open. The British number 1 followed up her win over second seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the round of 16, beating the 2022 runner-up 6-4, 6-3.
After trailing 3-1 in the first set, Boulter won nine of the next ten games in another confident performance. After her latest victory she will climb to the highest ranking of her career and is on the verge of the top 40.
after newsletter advertising
Vekic, the seventh seed, initially broke out in the opening set but then allowed Boulter to hit right back after an error-filled service game. Boulter then saved three break points to hold and secured a crucial second break to make it 5-4 before seeing out the set.
Two impressive backhands from Boulter gave the 27-year-old another break early in the second, and a subsequent break for love gave her complete control.
Boulter allowed Vekic to claw back a break as she served for the set, but after the longest rally of the game, she converted her first match point with a thumping forehand to secure victory in an hour and 36 minutes.
“It was an absolute battle in difficult conditions, it wasn’t easy to find a rhythm as we are both strong batsmen,” said Boulter. “I got over the finish line in the first set and played some good stuff in the second.”
