Katie Boulter could be put in a difficult situation at the 2026 Australian Open after the British star suffered a free-fall in the rankings this season.
Boulter’s poor form in 2025 saw her split from her coach, Biljana Veselinovic, at the culmination of the season.
Boulter won as many matches as she lost in 2025, picking up 22 victories and the same number of defeats.
The star heads into the new season outside the top 100 for the first time in years, which will present difficulties ahead of the Australian Open.
Katie Boulter wants the WTA to follow the ATP ahead of the Australian Open
Boulter is currently ranked World No. 101, which puts her chance of automatically qualifying for the Australian Open main draw in danger.
The star will likely need to play tournaments ahead of the Grand Slam, which will give her a shorter off-season.
In an interview with BBC Sport, she said: “If there are tournaments there, it gives you an opportunity because you want to make the main draw of Australia.
“I’m in this predicament myself right now, and it’s almost like I have to choose between my body or my ranking.
“I think I know my own right choice, but it’s difficult because it means that everyone else is going to be playing and passing me.”
The ATP Tour has changed the ruling around Australian Open qualification, with the 2025 end-of-season rankings being used for qualification for the Grand Slam.
What is stopping Katie Boulter from staying in the WTA top 20?
Boulter believes the WTA Tour should follow suit because the British star now needs to chase ranking points ahead of the Grand Slam to earn instant access into the tournament.
She added: “I do think that would probably be the smart thing to do. There has to be somewhere where you draw the line and you give people an opportunity to recuperate and also get a good pre-season in.
“I feel like this year we’ve seen so many burnouts, and so many people not playing the end of year because of mental health issues as well as body issues, and I do think it contributes to it.”
There are several tournaments taking place ahead of the Australian Open, including WTA 250 events the ASB Classic in Auckland, and the Hobart International.
Katie Boulter holds a remarkable piece of Australian Open history
It would be especially heartbreaking if Boulter didn’t make the Australian Open in 2026 as she holds a piece of history at the Grand Slam.
Boulter has reached the second round of the Australian Open on three occasions, in 2019, 2024, and 2025.
In 2019, Boulter made Australian Open history by being the first player to contest the new 10-point deciding tie-break.
She won the match, but had her Australian Open campaign ended by then-World No. 11 Aryna Sabalenka.
Boulter has also beaten Yuan Yue and Rebecca Marino at the first Grand Slam of the year.
