Katie Boulter picked up her first victory at the Madrid Open to confirm her place in the second round.
Boulter extended her impressive record against Taylor Townsend by defeating the American in straight sets.
The British star does not have the best record on clay and she now faces a very tough test against Jessica Pegula in round two.
Boulter has looked ahead to her match with the high-flying American, which will be their third match on the WTA Tour.
Katie Boulter looks ahead to ‘massive’ Jessica Pegula challenge
Boulter’s victory against Townsend is her third on clay in 2026 after appearances at the Linz Open and Open de Rouen.
The British star believes she is becoming a better player on the surface she has often called her least favourite.
What is stopping Katie Boulter from staying in the WTA top 20?
“I feel like my confidence is building on this surface. I do think I’m getting stronger and believing more coming out of the corners. I think I’m improving match by match,” she said after beating Townsend.
“I enjoy the competitive nature of this sport, which is being stubborn and not letting go or losing focus. I think that was the difference today, I dug in in the big moments, trusted my shots and then I think in the second set I stepped it up a bit and played better tennis.”
Looking ahead to her second round match with Pegula, Boulter said she was well aware of the danger the American poses.
“She’s a great player, she’s very in form and plays well on every surface,” she said about the world number five.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge for me but I have nothing to lose at the end of the day. I can have a go at someone on a surface I don’t love, and I’m going to try and play my way.”
Boulter and Pegula each hold a win over one another in their first two matches on the WTA Tour.
Pegula defeated Boulter during last year’s Billie Jean King Cup Finals, while the British star’s victory came at the United Cup in 2023.
Katie Boulter’s dream has come true in Madrid
As well as fighting on in the singles, Boulter is also set to play doubles alongside a tennis legend in Madrid.
The British star is set to play with Venus Williams in Madrid after the pair accepted a wild card at the Masters event.
Who is your favourite for the Madrid Open? 🤔
Boulter has expressed her delight at getting to team with one of the players who made her want to become a professional.
“She’s an absolute icon, I’m so excited to be playing with her,” said Boulter after winning her first round match. “It’s going to be a dream come true for a little girl who once looked up to her.”
Boulter and Williams are set to play Chinese duo Jiang Xinyu and Xu Yifan in the first round of the Madrid Open.
