Katie Boulter began her 2026 Hong Kong Open campaign with a gritty 6-2, 7-6 (7-2) victory over Switzerland's Viktorija Golubić on Monday. The top-ranked Brit survived a second-set collapse to score another WTA Round of 16 appearance — her second in one month.
Off-Court Distraction Rattles Katie Boulter in Hong Kong
Boulter looked in complete command early, rattling off eight straight games after conceding an opening break to run away with the first set.
That control held deep into the second, where she carved out a 5-2 lead only for an off-court disturbance to shake her concentration. When the umpire declined to replay the point, the eight-seed faltered, letting match point slip and dropping serve twice while trying to close.
"There was a little bit of interesting judgement which got under my skin," Boulter said. "It's end of season and it seemed to get to me, but lesson learned."
The world No. 49 regrouped when it mattered most, running the tiebreak 7-2 to cap her fourth win in five outings.
Fresh off a semifinal showing at the 2026 Japan Open, Boulter's late-season form has carried her back to the top of British women's tennis ranks. She next faces Claire Liu in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
