Katie Boulter extended her comeback run with a gritty first-round win over Jessica Bouzas Maneiro at the Miami Open, avenging the Spaniard’s victory over her at the 2024 US Open. Boulter prevailed 7-6 (11-9), 6-4 after a match that lasted one hour and 48 minutes.
The British No. 3, who earned direct entry into the main draw following several consistent months on tour, survived a dramatic opening-set tiebreak in which she trailed 6-2 and faced multiple set points before saving six and closing it out. She kept her level in the second set, recovering from an early break, breaking back and then serving out the match to seal progression to round two, where she will meet 17th seed Clara Tauson.
Boulter has been in strong form recently: she lifted her fourth tour-level title last month in Ostrava and reached the Merida Open quarter-finals. Even after falling in qualifying at Indian Wells, she produced a resilient display in Florida, staying aggressive when it mattered and limiting the damage from a few costly double faults.
Reflecting on the match, Boulter said she was disappointed to be broken quickly in the second set but focused on the right shots and trusted her game in the decisive moments. She highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami—cold and windy—and praised Bouzas Maneiro for her aggressive style, which forced Boulter to be proactive with her returns and serving strategy.
Boulter also admitted the US Open loss to Bouzas Maneiro lingered in her mind and provided extra motivation. She said that memory stung and she was determined to put that result right when the draw paired them again.
Other British players in action on Wednesday include three-time Miami champion Venus Williams, who returns for a 23rd appearance against wild-card Fran Jones, and Arthur Fery, who qualified for his first Masters 1000 main draw and faces former French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas. Both matches are scheduled for the night session on the Grandstand—Fran Jones vs Venus Williams and Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Arthur Fery—with start times listed as not before midnight.
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