Katie Boulter match halted as Brit told to leave court and stadium empties out
Katie Boulter’s match at the Japan Women’s Open was brought to a halt after heavy rainfall wreaked havoc on day three of the tournament in Osaka. The WTA 250 event got underway over the weekend, but Boulter had to wait until Monday to get her own campaign up and running. She was paired against wildcard entrant Himeno Sakatsume in the first round, but no sooner had the match started than the players were forced off court. That’s because the heavens opened in Osaka, and given the venue didn’t have a roof, the court was open to all of the elements.
There was an announcement that play would be suspended for at least an hour, with spectators told to leave the stands. It will come as a source of frustration for Boulter, given she hasn’t played much tennis in recent weeks.
Having lost in the second round of the China Open, and the first round of the Wuhan Open, it means the Brit has managed just three matches since September 30. As the eighth seed at the Japan Women’s Open, Boulter will be hoping for a decent run in Osaka, but she was unable to get off to the best of a start.
Granted, only three games had been played in the first set, but Sakatsume led 2-1 at the time of the suspension. Should Boulter manage to turn it around, the 30-year-old will play Viktorija Golubic in the second round following the Swiss stars’ straight-sets win over Mai Hontama.
Elsewhere in the world of British women’s tennis, it was a sensational week for Sonay Kartal upon her return from injury. The 24-year-old Londoner reached the final of the Wuhan Open, despite going six months without a match of any kind due to injury.
Kartal took the opening set, but eventually lost to Maja Chwalinska, denying her a first-ever WTA 1000 title. Kartal became the new British No.1 as a result of the run, and speaking post-match, she remarked: “That was one heck of a battle, Maja.
“I hope I can be in many more of these finals. It was not the result I wanted today but those people in my box are the reason I am healthy, I am here and why I am back to fitness.”
Adding: “We have had an unbelievable week. Not many people expected me to be here and bring these levels, so thank you, guys.”
