Physical Health or World Standing - Boulter's Australian Open Predicament
British Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "pick between my physical health and my world standing" as the scramble continues for a position in next January's Australian Open main event.
While the typical WTA Tour tournament schedule is completed, there are still standing points to be won in Chile, Argentina, various venues and European destinations.
The female participant roster for the initial Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be determined by the world rankings of 8 December, which could create a difficult choice for players near the selection threshold.
Health Challenges
Previous British top-ranked player Boulter suffered an abductor in her last tournament of the year in Hong Kong last month, and is now evaluating whether to participate in the WTA 125 Challenger event in Angers, the continental destination, in the first week of December.
Boulter's current physical issue, and the situation she would need to win at least several wins in the French tournament to improve her position, means she may probably eventually not competing.
Different Systems
In opposition, male players are not confronting the same situation, as for the initial instance the male Australian Open competitor lineup will be drawn up from present week's standings, which is the ATP's standard season-concluding position determination.
The adjustment is aimed at preventing competitors from chasing standing points during what is fundamentally the off-season.
Coaching Changes
This year has been a difficult one for Boulter.
She won only fourteen professional primary competition games and lately parted ways with trainer Biljana Veselinovic after a extended working relationship in which she won multiple WTA championships.
"Biljana is an exceptional instructor, and an remarkably good individual as well, which produces circumstances very difficult," Boulter commented.
The pursuit for a different coach is actively progressing, seeking a professional who has high-level experience as Boulter still believes she can be a world-class player.
Career Objectives
"Moving ahead with a different trainer, an important factor I'm very clear on is that they are going to be a professional who has considerable experience in how to advance to the highest echelon of this game," she explained.
"I've been ranked as elevated as 23 and I believe I can climb back there. I don't believe my performance has disappeared, I feel the steadiness needs to enhance.
"My objective is not merely to be positioned 50, 40, 30, twenty - we've been there. The objective is to be within the elite group."