Birmingham Classic: Katie Boulter retires after one set as Harriet Dart picks up victory | Tennis News

Birmingham Classic: Katie Boulter retires after one set as Harriet Dart picks up victory | Tennis News



Katie Boulter had to retire from the Birmingham Classic, after Anhelina Kalinina took their first set 6-3.

The match was taking place just two days after No 4 seed Boulter had clinched back-to-back titles in Nottingham with a 4-6 6-3 6-2 victory over Karolina Pliskova.

Boulter had won an all-British contest against Emma Raducanu in the semi-finals in three sets, 6-7 6-3 6-4. She had been a set down when play was suspended on Saturday evening before continuing on Sunday.

“I’m fine,” said a hoarse Boulter, who has been battling a cold for the last week.

“Obviously a long 10 days. I wanted to come up here anyway, I wanted to try, but I’m just not quite ready yet. I was quite sick during Nottingham but I just tried to stay in the tournament as long as I possibly could, as bad as I was feeling.

“From my third match I was really struggling. But I just tried to get through it and finish the week. It’s probably a little bit of a combination of everything.”

Harriet Dart is through to the second round after a comfortable 6-3 6-3 win over qualifier Moyuka Uchijima but wildcard Heather Watson suffered a 3-6 6-4 7-5 loss to Marie Bouzkova in Birmingham.

In a match which lasted just under three hours, Bouzkova battled back from 5-2 down in the deciding set to clinch victory.

Elsewhere, World No 8 Zheng Qinwen secured a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over Naomi Osaka in the first round of the Berlin Open.

Highlights of the game between Naomi Osaka and Qinwen Zheng in Rome

Zheng hit 23 aces during the encounter which is the most hit so far in a WTA Tour match this season.

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