🔗 Share this article

Britain's Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "choose between my physical health and my ranking" as the race continues for a position in next January's Australian Open main draw.

While the regular WTA Tour tournament schedule is finished, there are still standing points to be earned in South American nations, Argentina, Ecuador and France.

The women's competitor lineup for the opening Grand Slam of the forthcoming season will be calculated from the international positions of 8 December, which could present a dilemma for athletes close to the selection threshold.

Health Challenges

Former British number one Boulter suffered an groin injury in her concluding competition of the year in Asian venues last month, and is now evaluating whether to compete in the WTA 125 Challenger event in Angers, France, in the opening days of December.

Boulter's ongoing health concern, and the reality she would need to achieve at least three matches in the European event to boost her ranking, means she may well end up not competing.

Varying Approaches

In opposition, men's competitors are not experiencing the identical predicament, as for the first time the male Australian Open participant roster will be established from present week's rankings, which is the ATP's formal season-concluding position determination.

The modification is intended to deterring competitors from chasing ranking points during what is essentially the rest interval.

Training Transitions

This season has been a demanding one for Boulter.

She achieved merely 14 Tour-level major tournament games and currently split with coach Biljana Veselinovic after a three-year partnership in which she captured multiple WTA titles.

"Biljana is an outstanding instructor, and an remarkably excellent person as well, which produces circumstances particularly challenging," Boulter commented.

The pursuit for a new coach is well under way, searching for an individual who has elite expertise as Boulter still believes she can be a top-20 athlete.

Professional Aspirations

"Moving ahead with a different trainer, one thing I'm completely sure on is that they are going to be an individual who has a lot of expertise in how to succeed to the highest echelon of this profession," she explained.

"I've been placed as elevated as twenty-three and I am confident I can get back to that position. I don't believe my level has gone anywhere, I think the reliability needs to develop.

"My objective is not simply to be placed fifty, forty, 30, 20 - we've accomplished that. The aim is to be within the elite group."