Katie Boulter suffers a straight sets defeat against Coco Gauff at the National Bank Open 2023

Tennis: Katie Boulter’s Defeat to Coco Gauff in National Bank Open

British number one, Katie Boulter, faced a disappointing loss in straight sets against American teen sensation, Coco Gauff, during the second round of the National Bank Open.

Boulter, 27 years old and having not dropped a set throughout her two qualifying matches and main-draw opener in Montreal, seemed poised for success. However, she was outplayed by the 19-year-old Gauff who showcased her skills on the court.

Gauff will now move on to face Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova or former world number one Caroline Wozniacki in the last 16. It is worth noting that Wozniacki recently won her first-round comeback match.

A Dominant Performance by Gauff

Gauff wasted no time establishing control over the match. She made an explosive start against Boulter as she effortlessly won three points within the first four games of the opening set. Breaking serve twice allowed her to establish an impressive 4-0 lead early on.

Boulter responded with a break of her own but was unable to maintain momentum. Although she saved two set points at 5-2 and fought valiantly from being down 40-0 during those crucial moments, it was ultimately Gauff who converted third time around.

The Second Set Struggle

The beginning of the second set brought another challenge for Boulter as she failed to convert a break point opportunity. Three games later, Gauff managed to break her serve once again, further solidifying her dominance in the match.

Despite Boulter’s valiant efforts to save three match points during the final stages of the set, Gauff sealed her victory with another decisive break. It was a tough defeat for Boulter, who had shown great form leading up to this round.

Other Matches and Upcoming Action

In other matches at the National Bank Open, fifth seed Caroline Garcia from France faced an upset as she fell 6-4 4-6 6-2 against Marie Bouzkova from Czech Republic. Meanwhile, Sloane Stephens enjoyed a walkover into round three after Victoria Azarenka withdrew due to injury.

The tournament promises more thrilling action as top-ranked players such as Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina are set to compete later today. Notably, Wozniacki continues her comeback journey by facing Vondrousova in what is expected to be an exciting matchup at around 21:30 BST.

Rybakina will also resume her match against American Jennifer Brady after their second-round encounter was halted due to rain on Tuesday night.