Physical Health versus Ranking - Boulter's Australian Open Dilemma

British Katie Boulter says she feels she has to "pick between my physical condition and my ranking" as the scramble carries on for a place in next January's Australian Open main event.

While the typical WTA Tour tournament schedule is over, there are still ranking points to be won in Chile, Argentina, Ecuador and international tournaments.

The women's entry list for the first Grand Slam of the forthcoming season will be based on the world rankings of the December cutoff, which could present a challenging situation for athletes close to the qualification line.

Health Challenges

Ex- British leading competitor Boulter tore an abductor in her final event of the year in Asian venues last month, and is now weighing up whether to compete in the WTA 125 secondary tournament in Angers, France, in the initial week of December.

The athlete's current physical issue, and the fact she would need to win at least three matches in the European event to boost her ranking, means she may well eventually not playing.

Varying Approaches

In comparison, male athletes are not facing the identical situation, as for the initial instance the men's Australian Open competitor lineup will be created from this week's positions, which is the ATP's formal season-concluding position determination.

The modification is designed to preventing players from pursuing standing points during what is essentially the rest interval.

Coaching Changes

This period has been a demanding one for Boulter.

She won only 14 professional primary competition games and lately split with coach Biljana Veselinovic after a extended collaboration in which she captured three WTA victories.

"Biljana is an exceptional instructor, and an extremely quality human as well, which creates situations extremely hard," Boulter commented.

The search for a different coach is well under way, seeking someone who has elite expertise as Boulter still believes she can be a world-class competitor.

Professional Aspirations

"Progressing with a replacement instructor, one thing I'm very clear on is that they are going to be an individual who has a lot of knowledge in how to make it to the highest echelon of this profession," she stated.

"I've been positioned as high as twenty-three and I know I can get back there. I don't believe my level has disappeared, I believe the consistency must enhance.

"My aim is not simply to be positioned 50, 40, thirty, twenty - we've achieved that. The objective is to be within 20."