Katie Boulter fulfils dream by claiming Nottingham title against Jodie Burrage

On the first day of the grass-court season, Katie Boulter made the decision to post on social media in recognition of becoming the British No 1 for the first time in her career. It was a post, she admitted, that took much deliberation – she was still ranked 126th in the world, after all, still far beneath where she believes her ability should take her. Boulter pledged to continue working towards her main goals, however long it took.

It has not taken long for her to begin achieving them. Six days later, she closed off a historic week for British tennis in Nottingham by winning her first career WTA title as a wildcard and without dropping a set, overwhelming Jodie Burrage 6-3, 6-3.

That victory was achieved in the first WTA final between two British players in 46 years, since the glory days of Sue Barker and Virginia Wade, who faced each other in a 1977 final in San Francisco.

“I dreamed of this moment – to win this tournament – as a little girl when I was four years old,” said Boulter, who is from Leicester, during her on-court interview. “Having come here as a fan and now as a player and somehow finding a way to win it means more than everything to me.”

Both Boulter, 26, and the 24-year-old Burrage had begun the tournament having never reached a WTA semi-final and the final presented the biggest opportunity of their careers so far. Boulter rose to the occasion brilliantly, playing spectacularly and neutralising her opponent from the beginning.

Behind her excellent serve, Boulter struck the ball freely off both wings, dominating the baseline as she constantly looked to move forward and impose herself. She finished with 21 winners and only 15 unforced errors, a clean, quality performance worthy of the occasion.

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