Katie Boulter stops outside the top 50 in the world after losing to Malta Kostuk in the opening round of the US Open.
The former UK first has had a difficult season and admitted ahead of the contest that he began to feel burned out after heading straight from Wimbledon to the US.
This was a tough draw against the 27th seed, with Boulter preventing his first opening round loss in four years, losing 6-4, 6-4.
Boulder’s only previous match with Ukrainian Kostuk came to San Diego last spring, bringing the biggest title of her career.
However, she was unable to defend her crown due to injuries, and since then, despite her falling below main tour level, it has become difficult to come just before the French opening, except for her impressive first title at Clay.
This was a close contest, but it was Kostuk who ultimately took more of her chances. Boulet converted only two of her 10 breakpoints.
Three of these came to the final game after a ballter who hit eight double faults delved into her serve to save five match points, but she couldn’t push the match to the decider.
It was a rare first-round defeat at the 29-year-old’s grand slam, reaching the second round in nine of his 10 previous appearances in the main draw in the majors.
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