Britain’s Katie Boulter has shared her feelings after an impressive first-round win at the Japan Open. The 29-year-old defeated the tournament’s No. 2 seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic 7-6, 6-3 to reach the round of 16.
It was Boulter’s 18th win in 36 matches this season. Speaking to Sky Sports, she said she was very pleased with her performance, explaining that her plan was to stay focused and take control against a player of Noskova’s calibre.
“I’m very happy with how I played today,” Boulter said. “It’s been a tough few weeks. I just tried to back myself, focus on the ball, and give it everything. Against someone like Linda, you have to win the match—she’s not going to lose it. I went out there and played a good match, so I’m satisfied. I don’t know what it is, but I feel drawn to Japan. I love it here. I played here many times when I was younger, and I just feel comfortable—it showed on court.”
Boulter vs Noskova – Full Match Stats
| Statistic | Boulter | Noskova |
|---|---|---|
| Dominance Ratio | 1.29 | 0.78 |
| Serve Rating | 239 | 212 |
| Aces | 5 | 2 |
| Double Faults | 5 | 3 |
| 1st Serve % | 60% (42/70) | 72% (46/64) |
| 1st Serve Points Won | 69% (29/42) | 52% (24/46) |
| 2nd Serve Points Won | 46% (13/28) | 39% (7/18) |
| Break Points Saved | 50% (4/8) | 29% (2/7) |
| Service Games | 64% (7/11) | 50% (5/10) |
| Ace % | 7.1% | 3.1% |
| Double Fault % | 7.1% | 4.7% |
| Return Rating | 230 | 171 |
| 1st Return Points Won | 48% (22/46) | 31% (13/42) |
| 2nd Return Points Won | 61% (11/18) | 54% (15/28) |
| Break Points Won | 71% (5/7) | 50% (4/8) |
| Return Games | 50% (5/10) | 36% (4/11) |
| Pressure Points | 60% (9/15) | 40% (6/15) |
| Service Points | 60% (42/70) | 48% (31/64) |
| Return Points | 52% (33/64) | 40% (28/70) |
| Total Points | 56% (75/134) | 44% (59/134) |
| Match Points Saved | 0 | 0 |
| Max Points In A Row | 7 | 5 |
| Total Games Won | 57% (12/21) | 43% (9/21) |
| Max Games In A Row | 5 | 4 |
| Match Duration | 1h 36m | |
In the next round, Boulter will face Sorana Cirstea of Romania, who came back from a set down to defeat Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. It will be their first-ever meeting on the professional tour.
A welcome breakthrough
The win was a much-needed boost for Boulter, whose 2025 season has featured ups and downs. Earlier in the year, she claimed her first Top-20 victory by defeating Paula Badosa 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the opening round of Wimbledon. However, she fell in the second round to Solana Sierra 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.
“Of course it hurts,” she admitted. “It’s a really hard pill to swallow. Unfortunately, that’s how it goes sometimes. You have to accept that your moment might not come right away. I’ll keep working hard and giving my best. In the end, that’s all I can do. You can look at a piece of paper and say, ‘That’s a terrible loss,’ but she played better than me that day. That’s tennis.”
Boulter added that she rarely feels outplayed, even against power hitters such as Badosa, and credited Sierra for her sharp, attacking game.
Staying positive through ups and downs
In a later interview with The Independent, Boulter struck a much more optimistic tone, insisting her time “will come sooner rather than later.” She emphasized the importance of resilience over a long season.
“The season is a constant rollercoaster—no one ever gets a break,” she said in August. “By the end of the year, people are dropping like flies. I managed to keep going and finish strong, which meant a lot to me mentally. You lose more than 50 percent of the time—even the best players do.”
She continued:
“I keep putting myself in positions where I can go deep in tournaments. My tennis has been really good in earlier rounds, but sometimes I can’t quite finish the job. I could’ve lost to a Top-10 player in round one and everyone would’ve said, ‘Tough draw.’ But the fact that I beat a Top-10 player on Centre Court is something to take pride in. It’s about playing more matches, giving myself more chances, and believing that my moment will come.”