Physical Health versus Ranking - Katie Boulter's Australian Open Predicament
Britain's Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "choose between my physical condition and my ranking" as the scramble carries on for a position in January's Australian Open primary competition.
While the typical WTA Tour competitive period is over, there are still ranking points to be earned in Chile, neighboring countries, various venues and France.
The female participant roster for the initial Grand Slam of the forthcoming season will be determined by the international positions of early December, which could cause a dilemma for athletes approaching the qualification line.
Physical Setbacks
Previous British number one Boulter suffered an abductor in her final event of the year in Asian venues last month, and is now weighing up whether to play in the WTA 125 secondary tournament in Angers, France, in the first week of December.
The athlete's ongoing health concern, and the situation she would need to win at least multiple victories in the French tournament to enhance her ranking, means she may well end up not competing.
Different Systems
In opposition, male players are not facing the equivalent dilemma, as for the initial instance the men's Australian Open entry list will be drawn up from this week's rankings, which is the ATP's official annual-final position determination.
The modification is designed to discouraging players from pursuing standing points during what is basically the rest interval.
Training Transitions
This season has been a difficult one for Boulter.
She secured just 14 Tour-level primary competition contests and recently split with coach Biljana Veselinovic after a extended working relationship in which she won several WTA championships.
"Biljana is an outstanding instructor, and an exceptionally quality human as well, which makes things very difficult," Boulter said.
The quest for a different coach is actively progressing, seeking a professional who has top-tier experience as Boulter still believes she can be a top-20 competitor.
Career Objectives
"Moving ahead with a replacement instructor, one thing I'm completely sure on is that they are going to be someone who has considerable knowledge in how to advance to the highest echelon of this profession," she said.
"I've been positioned as advanced as 23 and I am confident I can get back to that level. I am not convinced my level has diminished, I feel the reliability should improve.
"My goal is not simply to be positioned 50, forty, thirty, twenty - we've been there. The goal is to be within 20."