Boulter feeling 'no pressure' in British battle

Katie Boulter says she is not feeling any pressure as she battles to keep the British number one ranking with Emma Raducanu and Sonay Kartal closing in.

Boulter, 28, has been the nation's leading women's player since June 2023, but has dropped down the world rankings in a stop-start season.

Having reached a career high 23rd in November, Boulter is now 40th after winning five of her 10 matches this year.

Raducanu is up to 49th after reaching the Miami quarter-finals last month, while Kartal's rapid rise has moved her up to 60th.

"I don't feel any pressure at all," Boulter told BBC Sport.

"I'm very comfortable in the seat that I am and I know that every single person has a different journey and my journey is not going to be compared to anyone else's – I'm proud of that.

"I've been the British number one for two years, it's been a fair while now. It's something which I'm quite used to."

Boulter starts her clay-court swing on Tuesday when she plays Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic in the Madrid Open first round.

The Briton's experience on clay is still limited, having only played four top-level main-draw matches on the surface.

After winning one and losing one of her BJK Cup singles matches last week on indoor clay in the Netherlands, Boulter went to Alicante - where her fiancé Alex de Minaur has long been based - for a training week.

She decided that was the sensible option - instead of squeezing in another WTA clay-court event before Madrid - as she continues to manage a foot injury.

The issue has left her only able to play five tournaments this season, missing almost two months of the WTA Tour between the Australian Open in January and Indian Wells in March.

"I want to see the girls going higher and higher [in the rankings], but personally I have my own goals and try to focus on those a lot," added Boulter, who secured GB's place in the BJK Cup Finals alongside Jodie Burrage in the deciding doubles.

"For me I just need to try and stay healthy. That's that most important thing and then the ranking will take care of itself.

"Obviously I've dropped a little bit from last year but due to the fact I've not been able to play.

"It's not like my level has gone anywhere. I feel like my level is great so now it's about keeping myself healthy for the most important tournaments."