Physical Health or Ranking - Katie Boulter's Australian Open Dilemma
Britain's Katie Boulter says she feels she has to "decide between my body and my professional position" as the race persists for a position in next January's Australian Open main draw.
While the regular WTA Tour season is finished, there are still ranking points to be won in Chile, Argentina, multiple sites and France.
The women's participant roster for the first Grand Slam of the forthcoming season will be determined by the world rankings of the December cutoff, which could create a dilemma for competitors close to the qualification line.
Physical Setbacks
Previous British leading competitor Boulter tore an hip muscle in her final event 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 opening days of December.
Boulter's recent injury, and the reality she would need to secure at least multiple victories in the French tournament to boost her standing, means she may likely ultimately not competing.
Varying Approaches
In opposition, male players are not facing the equivalent predicament, as for the initial instance the men's Australian Open participant roster will be created from current week's positions, which is the ATP's standard season-concluding ranking date.
The change is designed to discouraging competitors from pursuing position points during what is basically the break period.
Coaching Changes
This year has been a challenging one for Boulter.
She secured just 14 professional main-draw contests and recently separated with trainer Biljana Veselinovic after a three-year collaboration in which she secured three WTA victories.
"Biljana is an incredible coach, and an extremely quality human as well, which produces circumstances particularly challenging," Boulter said.
The search for a new coach is well under way, searching for a professional who has top-tier expertise as Boulter still believes she can be a world-class athlete.
Future Goals
"Moving ahead with a new coach, an important factor I'm absolutely certain on is that they are going to be someone who has extensive expertise in how to advance to the highest echelon of this game," she said.
"I've been ranked as elevated as twenty-three and I believe I can get back to that position. I don't believe my standard has diminished, I believe the consistency needs to improve.
"My goal is not merely to be ranked fifty, 40, thirty, twenty - we've accomplished that. The aim is to be among the elite group."