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Katie Boulter to Attempt Australian Open Qualification After Missing Direct Entry

Posted : 10 December 2025

Former British number one Katie Boulter has missed out on direct entry into the main draw for the 2026 Australian Open. Only 104 players received automatic spots in Melbourne, including those using protected rankings, and Boulter’s current ranking of 106 left her just outside the cutoff.

The 29-year-old will now need to compete in the qualifying rounds at Melbourne Park to secure a place in the first Grand Slam of 2026. Boulter had the chance to boost her ranking points at a WTA 125 challenger event in France last week, but she withdrew due to a hip injury sustained in Hong Kong in October.

Speaking to BBC Sport in November, Boulter explained that she had to “choose between my body and my ranking” when deciding whether to compete. “If there are tournaments there, it gives you an opportunity because you want to make the main draw of Australia,” she said. “I think I know my own right choice, but it's difficult because it means that everyone else is going to be playing and passing me.”

It has been a challenging season for Boulter, who has won just 14 Tour-level main-draw matches this year. She also recently ended her three-year partnership with coach Biljana Veselinovic, during which she captured three WTA titles.

Other British players, including Emma Raducanu, Sonay Kartal, and Francesca Jones, secured direct entry into the main draw, alongside men’s players Jack Draper, Cameron Norrie, and Jacob Fearnley.

The 2026 Australian Open used the official year-end ATP rankings to set the men’s entry list in November, while the women’s list was based on rankings as of 8 December.

Boulter highlighted the broader issue of player welfare, noting the importance of balancing competition with recovery.

Now, Boulter faces the challenge of winning through qualifying to reach the Melbourne Park main draw for the sixth time in her career, as she looks to regain momentum for the new season.

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