Physical Health or Ranking - Katie Boulter's Australian Open Dilemma
British Katie Boulter states she believes she has to "pick between my physical health and my professional position" as the scramble carries on for a place in the upcoming January Australian Open main draw.
While the regular WTA Tour competitive period is over, there are still standing points to be earned in South American nations, Argentina, multiple sites and international tournaments.
The female participant roster for the first Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be calculated from the world rankings of 8 December, which could create a difficult choice for competitors close to the selection threshold.
Physical Setbacks
Ex- British top-ranked player Boulter experienced an groin injury in her final event of the year in Asian venues last timeframe, and is now considering whether to compete in the WTA 125 development competition in European venues, the continental destination, in the initial week of December.
The athlete's recent injury, and the reality she would need to achieve at least several wins in the European event to enhance her ranking, means she may well end up not playing.
Contrasting Methods
In opposition, male athletes are not experiencing the equivalent situation, as for the first time the male Australian Open competitor lineup will be created from present week's rankings, which is the ATP's official annual-final position determination.
The modification is aimed at discouraging players from seeking standing points during what is fundamentally the rest interval.
Coaching Changes
This year has been a difficult one for Boulter.
She secured just fourteen professional primary competition games and currently separated with trainer Biljana Veselinovic after a three-year working relationship in which she won three WTA championships.
"Biljana is an outstanding instructor, and an remarkably excellent human as well, which creates situations very difficult," Boulter said.
The pursuit for a new instructor is actively progressing, looking for a professional who has elite experience as Boulter still believes she can be a world-class player.
Career Objectives
"Progressing with a new coach, an important factor I'm very clear on is that they are going to be someone who has extensive expertise in how to advance to the highest echelon of this sport," she explained.
"I've been positioned as advanced as 23 and I am confident I can return there. I am not convinced my standard has diminished, I think the consistency should develop.
"My objective is not simply to be ranked 50, forty, thirty, twenty - we've achieved that. The objective is to be inside the top twenty."