Boulter British No 1 Again After Japan Open Comeback
Boulter British No 1 status is hers again after Katie Boulter fought back from a set and a break down to beat Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic and reach the Japan Open semi-finals in Osaka. The 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 win took two hours at the Utsubo Tennis Center.
The eighth seed reached her first semi-final since Queen’s in June, and her third WTA semi-final of the 2026 season. The result also settled a ranking race that had been running all week.
Boulter had lost the British No 1 ranking on Monday after Sonay Kartal reached the final in Wuhan. She entered the Japan Open needing a semi-final appearance to overturn a 55-point deficit, and she delivered it against the world No 91.
Boulter British No 1: how the comeback unfolded
The match started badly for Boulter. She was broken in her opening service game, and Ruzic, 23, took control of the first set. A double fault at 4-2 helped the Croat win the next four games and take the set 6-3.
Boulter struggled early on serve, hitting four double faults and facing seven break points across the first two sets. But the momentum shifted in the second set. She saved two break points in the third game and held serve in the seventh after three successive breaks.
That hold started a run of eight straight games, taking her to a 4-0 lead in the decider. She failed to serve out the match at 5-2, but broke Ruzic to love in the next game to seal the win.
Boulter praised her opponent after the match. “[Ruzic] is a really good player, full credit to her,” she said. “I tried to hang tough and find a way. I was a bit lucky in the middle of the second [set] but I feel I did really well to stay there.”
What the ranking change means
Regardless of her semi-final result, Boulter will move above Kartal and return to the world’s top 50 when the WTA rankings are updated on Monday. Kartal will have held the British No 1 spot for a week.
The ranking system rewards results over a rolling period, so a single strong week can swing a close race. Boulter’s semi-final run was worth enough points to wipe out the 55-point gap and put her back on top of the British standings.
Her next match is the semi-final against Czech player Katerina Siniakova on Saturday. Boulter called her a dangerous opponent. “She’s one hell of a player, really dangerous,” she said. “I know what to expect and it will be down to who gets the first strike in. I think it’s going to be a great match and I’ve got nothing to lose again.”
After Osaka, Boulter is scheduled to play in Tokyo and Hong Kong as she looks to finish the 2026 season strongly. The battle for the British No 1 ranking remains tight, with Kartal close behind and Emma Raducanu still sidelined with a shin injury.
A season that needed a lift
The Osaka run matters beyond the ranking. Boulter had not reached a semi-final since June, and a deep run at a WTA event gives her season a late lift. Winning from a set and a break down, against an opponent playing freely, showed the resilience she credited after the match.
For British tennis, the week has produced a clean storyline: the top spot changed hands twice in five days, and the player who lost it won it back on court rather than by default. Whoever finishes the year as British No 1, the contest between Boulter and Kartal has given the end of the season a clear edge.
Feature Pakistan also covered Arteta’s concern over Bukayo Saka’s quad injury, Mourinho’s return to the Clasico with Real Madrid, Cristiano Ronaldo’s disputed 982nd career goal and India’s win over Zimbabwe in the women’s ODI series opener.
Frequently asked questions
How did Katie Boulter regain the British No 1 ranking?
She beat Antonia Ruzic 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the Japan Open quarter-finals in Osaka, reaching the semi-finals and overturning a 55-point deficit to Sonay Kartal.
When had Boulter lost the top spot?
On Monday, after Kartal reached the final in Wuhan. Kartal held the British No 1 ranking for a week before Boulter won it back.
Who does Boulter face in the semi-final?
Czech player Katerina Siniakova, on Saturday, for a place in the Japan Open final.
Will Boulter return to the world’s top 50?
Yes. Regardless of her semi-final result, she will return to the world’s top 50 when the WTA rankings are updated on Monday.
