Katie Boulter, the British No. 1, secured her inaugural WTA 500 tournament triumph with a hard-fought victory over Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk in the San Diego Open final. Despite a tense beginning, Kostyuk, seeded sixth, initially gained momentum, building a lead in the opening set.
However, Boulter staged a remarkable comeback, leveling the set at 5-5 before Kostyuk ultimately claimed it 7-5. Undeterred, Boulter dominated the second set, particularly on her first serve, winning it convincingly at 6-2 to force a decisive third set.
In the final set, Boulter continued her momentum, securing an early break to establish a 3-1 lead. She further broke Kostyuk’s serve in the seventh game, sealing her victory after a grueling battle lasting two hours and 13 minutes.
Boulter’s boyfriend, Alex De Minaur, who had just retained his title in Acapulco, made a special effort to support her, rushing to San Diego after a late-night finish and an early-morning flight. Boulter expressed her gratitude to De Minaur in her post-match remarks.
Both Boulter and Kostyuk had breakthrough seasons in 2023, claiming their maiden WTA Tour titles. Boulter’s victory on grass in Nottingham and Kostyuk’s triumph in Austin marked significant milestones in their careers.
Boulter’s win over Kostyuk propels her into the top 30 for the first time, capping off an impressive start to her 2024 season.
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