Katie Boulter Reclaims British No 1 Despite Japan Open Semi-Final Loss
Katie Boulter reached the semi-finals of the Japan Open, securing her return as Britain's top-ranked female player.
According to SkySports | News, Katie Boulter was defeated in straight sets by Katerina Siniakova in the semi-finals of the Japan Open, with a scoreline of 6-1, 6-4. Despite the loss, Boulter's performance in Osaka marked her third WTA semi-final appearance of the 2026 season.
Boulter started the match struggling, losing the first five games and facing a set point early on, but she managed to win her first game and even broke Siniakova once. However, Siniakova regained control to close out the match.
Importantly, Boulter's run to the semi-finals enabled her to reclaim the British No 1 ranking from Sonay Kartal, highlighting her continued presence among the top British women in tennis.