After what has been a roller-coaster past few months for Britain’s female tennis players, history has been made at the Nottingham Open.
Four out of the eight participants in Friday’s quarter-finals are British which has never happened before at a WTA event. After a series of shock exits from the top players earlier in the tournament, no seeds have made it through to the last eight.
Two of the home players remaining in the tournament secured their place in the quarter-finals by defeating top-30 opposition. Harriet Dart defeated world No.25 Anhelina Kalinina 6-0, 7-5, who is currently ranked more than 100 places higher than her in the WTA standings. Meanwhile, Jodie Burrage beat Australian Open semi-finalist Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3.
Elsewhere, British No.1 Katie Boulter beat lucky loser Daria Snigur 7-5, 6-3. Finally, Heather Watson battled to a 6-4, 6-4, win over last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria.
“When we are all doing well it really pushes everyone on, it is a bit daunting going on after the other two (Boulter and Dart) won, it was a little bit of pressure, but in the same breath it did help as well, but when you’re out on court you’re just wanting to win,” Burrage commented on the success of her and her compatriots.
The triumphs are a much-needed boost for the LTA whose players have come under fire in recent weeks from some. There are currently no British women ranked in the top 100 and none of them managed to secure a main draw spot in this year’s French Open.
Boulter will next play Dart in the tournament. She is currently 0-4 when it comes to playing in WTA quarter-finals with three of those previous losses being on the grass. Despite being a part of a close team alongside her upcoming opponent, she insists that their friendship will not be a factor in their match.
“At the end of the day you are playing against a tennis ball, I don’t think it matters too much who that person is, you have to play the ball and what’s coming at you,” she said.
“That’s the way I see it. I don’t think it is going to be an easy match either way, I am looking forward to it. It’s not often you get to the quarter-finals at your home tournament so that’s all I’m concentrating on.”
Since the tournament was upgraded to a WTA event in 2015, only once has a British woman won the title. That was Johanna Konta in 2021 who defeated Zhang Shuai in the final.
There is also home interest in the men’s Challenger event which is taking place at the same venue. Top seed Andy Murray is through to the quarter-final stage, as well as wildcard George Loffhagen.
