Katie Boulter has experienced both sides of being a professional tennis player, having enjoyed red-hot form and a disappointing slump over the last two years.
Boulter reached a career ranking high of world number 23 at the end of 2024, but she struggled to find form in 2025.
The British star slipped outside the top 100 at the end of 2025, but her recent form under new coach Michael Joyce has helped her look like a top star once again.
Boulter’s win at the Ostrava Open helped her become the British No. 3 again, and she’s now offered her opinion on the strength of the women’s game in Britain.
Katie Boulter says women’s tennis in Britain is ‘improving’
Appearing on The Sit-Down, Boulter was confident about the direction women’s tennis was moving in recently.
“British tennis in general I feel like we have been improving for a while. I think it’s one of those things we are secretly improving. We all get to work and do what we need to do behind the scenes. I also know that there is going to be a lot of pressure and a lot of eyes on British girls in general, which there is probably not as much on other people around Wimbledon time.”
There are currently four British women inside the top 100, with Emma Raducanu topping that list at world number 24.
Boulter tries not to think about the competition of other British stars, but she has been impressed by what she’s seen.
“So there is always going to be a lot of opinions on how well we are doing and how we are not. For me I just focus on myself and try and keep myself in my own little bubble and keep improving and take care of my own backyard. I think that’s very important. I think as a whole it’s great to see the girls doing so well.”
Boulter is joined by Sonay Kartal, Fran Jones, and Raducanu inside the top 100, three players she knows and gets on with well.
“I have loved seeing Sonay. She is so fun to watch. I saw her win her first title and I am so happy for her, she is a great person let alone a great tennis player. I am never going to put pressure on her but I genuinely think she is going to be a really, really good tennis player.
“She is already a great one but she has a lot of miles to go and can get better and better. And Fran as well, what an incredible story that is. I mean, what she is doing is not comparable to anything else.
“With what she has, it’s an inspiration for everyone to show people what can be done and there literally are no limits and it’s so great to see her doing well. And then Em being back where she belongs. She will only get higher.”
Boulter also believes the future of British tennis is bright, with several exciting teenagers who could climb the rankings very soon.
She added: “So I feel we are in a great place and we are starting to push people and get more in the top 100, and I’m sure there will be a few more youngsters coming through soon.
“We have a great group of girls, Hannah, Mika, Mimi, the list is pretty long so great to see that we are really coming through somewhere and getting what we deserve. We have got to keep working hard and maintaining what we are doing and I hope everyone gets what they deserve.”
Mika Stojsavljevic became the highest ranked 16 year old in tennis in 2025, while Mimi Xu made her Wimbledon debut, and Hannah Klugman reached the junior final of Roland Garros.
Who does Katie Boulter play in Indian Wells qualifying?
Boulter’s ranking surge came too late to earn entry into Indian Wells, so the British star needs to navigate qualifying.
She has been drawn against Viktoriya Tomova in the first round, who is currently ranked world number 159.
Boulter will be the clear favourite to come through that tie and if she wins she will play the winner of Lucrezia Stefanini and Victoria Jiménez Kasintseva.
The star is the number one seed in Indian Wells qualifying and she is the only British woman in the draw.
However, she will be joined by Billy Harris and Jack Pinnington Jones, who are trying to qualify in the men’s draw.