Katie Boulter’s worrying form continued as she crashed out of the Japan Open in the first round.
Boulter fought through qualifying to earn a match against fellow qualifier Eva Lys, but she was swiftly dispatched by the German.
Lys dropped just three games against the British star, who had no answers for her opponent at the Japan Open.
Boulter’s Asian swing has been extremely uninspiring, and one major issue has continued to hold her back.
Katie Boulter’s serve continues to let her down
The British star has picked up some notable wins in Asia, including an impressive victory against Hailey Baptiste at the China Open, but one thing has stopped her from going further in tournaments.
Boulter’s serve has been a major issue in Asia, and those problems were highlighted in her drubbing to Lys.
The British star was broken five times against Lys as she was beaten by her fellow qualifier, but that wasn’t the only worry for Boulter.
The 29-year-old only managed to win 50% of points on her first serve, instantly putting the Brit at a disadvantage.
Boulter’s draw at the Japan Open was favourable, but she wasn’t able to take advantage due to her poor serving.
The British star absolutely has to work on her serving if she wants to crack into the top 30 of the WTA Tour again.
What’s next for Katie Boulter?
With just three tournaments left of the season, there’s every chance Boulter could end her season early after the Japan Open.
The star should use the time to further her progress on her serve ahead of the start of the 2026 season, with little to play for in terms of ranking.
Boulter currently sits at World No. 79 and would likely have to win either the Hong Kong Open, Jiangxi Open, or Chennai Open in order to gain seeded entry into the Australian Open.
With little chance of that at the moment, Boulter could get the jump on her competitors by returning to the drawing board before 2026.
