British tennis’s relationship with clay courts has often been an unrequited love but, while that history already seems destined to repeat itself elsewhere, Katie Boulter made a fine start at the Madrid Open.
Emma Raducanu’s extended absence remains something of a mystery, while Sonay Kartal has ruled herself out of the entire clay swing because of a back injury. That left Boulter, the world No 61, as the sole flag-bearer in the women’s draw — no other Britons even entered qualifying — but a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Taylor Townsend in the first round continued her reascendance.
Townsend, a two-times doubles grand-slam champion, may be ranked only No 90 in singles, but the American possesses a varied arsenal, with deft net play and an array of slices. She was able to frustrate Boulter at times in a close-fought first set, but the British No 3’s aggressive ball-striking from the baseline wrested control and she ultimately cruised to victory.
“[My relationship with clay] is improving,” Boulter, who faces Jessica Pegula, the fifth seed, in the second round, said. “I wouldn’t say it’s my favourite thing in the world. I enjoy the challenge, I enjoy not being good at something and trying to work on it and get better at it.
“I think there are other times I haven’t been too open to clay and I haven’t allowed myself to even try, but after last season I feel like I can play some really good stuff. My relationship [with it] is improving. I’ve still got a long way to go to beat some of the top players. I need to improve, and I’ve got a good test coming up so I’m excited to try and see where my level is at.”
Boulter has been a rare bright spot for British tennis in recent months — not to neglect the enduring, understated consistency of Cameron Norrie — with Jack Draper, who reached the final in Madrid last year, now contending with a new injury problem and facing a race against time to be fit for Roland Garros.
The irony of a torrid 2025 season, in which Boulter fell out of the top 100 and parted ways with her long-time coach Biljana Veselinovic, was that she claimed the first title of her career on clay, albeit at a lower-rung Challenger event.
Archer stands down as WTA chief
- Portia Archer has abruptly stood down as chief executive of the WTA Tour after less than two years in the role. Valentina Camillo, chairwoman of the women’s tennis circuit, announced Archer’s departure in an email to staff on Wednesday (Tom Kershaw writes).
“I am writing to share that Portia has informed us of her decision to step down from her role as CEO, effective April 20, ahead of her contract renewal. We are working through a transition plan for the leadership of the WTA Tour and will share an update on this by mid-May,” it read.
The decision to team up with Michael Joyce, who is best known for coaching Maria Sharapova, has been thoroughly vindicated, though, after Boulter claimed the fourth WTA title of her career at the Ostrava Open in February before reaching the third round at the Miami Open. A quarter- final appearance at the Open de Rouen last week offered promise that Boulter’s recent form would translate well to clay, and her superior power was evident from the off as two heavy forehands forced a break in the opening game. But the vicious spin on Townsend’s groundstrokes proved difficult to judge and two winners were followed by a fine volley to even the score at 2-2. It was a gritty set from thereon, with Townsend saving five break points in the following game, before Boulter eventually regained the ascendancy at 4-4.
Two timely aces — a facet of her game that has noticeably improved under Joyce — clinched the set and Boulter settled into a fantastic rhythm in the second, breaking twice in quick succession. The pick of the shots still belonged to Townsend, though, who somehow managed to contrive a backhand slice lob after reaching a Boulter drive-volley at full stretch, for which she earned a standing ovation.
