Katie Boulter Battles Through Heat and Competition at Nottingham Open

Katie Boulter, the two-times defending champion, narrowly defeated fellow Briton Sonay Kartal 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to reach the Nottingham Open quarter-finals. Boulter's victory didn't come easily, as Kartal posed a formidable challenge, taking a 4-2 lead in the deciding set. However, Boulter showcased her tenacity, rallying back to extend her unbeaten run in the tournament to 12 matches, all while contending with the oppressive heat.

Despite the tough competition, Boulter expressed her respect for Kartal, acknowledging her as a fierce competitor. 'I have so much respect for Sonay. I know she's going to surpass me at some point; she's got the game for it, she's got the head for it,' Boulter remarked. 'At the very end, I just wanted to grit my teeth and get myself over the line.'

Boulter's next challenge is set against McCartney Kessler of the United States, who defeated China's Zhu Lin 6-1, 6-4. Boulter remains the only British player left in the competition, as Mingge Xu was defeated by Polish sixth seed Magda Linette, who will face Clara Tauson of Denmark in the next round.

(With inputs from agencies.)