Katie Boulter shows her grit to overcome misfiring serve and beat Aliaksandra Sasnovich

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British No1 Katie Boulter flirted with disaster on her first appearance among the US Open’s 32 seeded players, dropping the first set to unheralded qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich.
But in a gritty display that underlined her growing maturity, Boulter managed to fend off Sasnovich’s unpredictable game style, grinding her way to a 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 victory that felt considerably less secure than it looked on the scorecard.
“I haven’t come into here with loads of matches,” said Boulter, who took time out from the regular tour over the summer to play in the Paris Olympics, and thus forced herself to switch from grass to clay to hard courts in the space of four weeks.
“I changed surface within three days, and I’ve never done that. It’s a complete risk for me and my body. As I’ve said before, I wouldn’t change it for the world, because the Olympics was an amazing week for me. But, yeah, this was a really important win.
“There’s always going to be that question mark in your mind. Am I ready? Am I going to bring my best game? [Am I] prepared? Have I done the best that I possibly can? And I think for me, it was about accepting the it might not be pretty, but I’m going to have to find a way through and that’s how I’m going to start building.
Boulter was right to question the prettiness or otherwise of her first-round performance, because she lacked the commanding presence that she is capable of bringing to the court.
Much of this had to do with her inability to find a first serve. Sasnovich is a spiky character who likes to go for a big return, and she was cashing in on the many floaty second serves that came limping over the net.
After the first two sets had been split, Boulter needed to stave off six break points at the start of the decider. Even now, her serve declined to come to her rescue, and she was forced to battle through some edgy baseline rallies.
A couple of those ended in absolute gifts from Sasnovich, who managed to waste her opportunities when the court was gaping wide open. Always a shaky closer, Sasnovich lost belief at that moment and Boulter sprinted home, winning 12 of the last 13 points.
“It felt good to actually play a lot of tennis and get used to the courts a bit as well,” said Boulter, “because it felt a lot quicker out there than a lot of the practice that I’ve had. So yeah, I mean, it was a battle in the first [set] but I was right there.”
Later, the former world No1 Naomi Osaka broke down in tears after claiming her first top-10 win in four years on Louis Armstrong Stadium, where she dismantled 10th seed Jelena Ostapenko in straight sets.
“I was trying not to cry when I was walking out,” said Osaka after her 6-3, 6-2 victory. “Last year I was watching Coco [Gauff, the defending champion] play and I so badly wanted to step on these courts again. I didn’t know if I could… just to win this match and just to be in this atmosphere means so much to me.”
Osaka had won only two matches at the previous three grand-slam events of the year, despite producing one of the best individual performances of the French Open in a dramatic three-set loss to eventual champion Iga Swiatek.
This win suggested that she is beginning to gather some momentum on her return from a 16-month spell of maternity leave. Osaka was particularly effective on serve, winning 39 of 50 points and never giving up a break. But her draw remains highly challenging, throwing up a second-round meeting with former French Open finalist Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Osaka made a strong fashion statement in a green ruffled dress topped with a bow, which is part of her own Ambush collection. In her on-court interview, she told ESPN host Pam Shriver that she had been kept up late on the eve of the match by her daughter Shai.
“Last night my daughter didn’t want to go to sleep on her bed time, so I had to hold her for a quite a while,” Osaka explained. “I was like, ‘Oh wow, she really picked the perfect day not to go to sleep.’”
That wasn’t a classic. In the end, Boulter forced her way over the line through sheer grittiness. Had she possessed a functioning first serve, it would have been a very straightforward outing. But her struggles on that shot left her looking distinctly vulnerable, and she needed to stave off six break points at the start of the decider. A couple of those were absolute gifts from Sasnovich when the court was gaping wide open. Always a shaky closer, Sasnovich lost belief at that moment and Boulter sprinted home, winning 12 of the last 13 points.
Speaking to Sky Sports after sealing her spot in the second round, Katie Boulter said she is happy with the way she managed the heat and a spirited performance from an opponent who came into the match with three qualifying wins already under her belt.
She said: “I’m super proud of the way I managed to stay in there.
“When you haven’t played that many matches on this surface sometimes breathing and taking your time helps. I really found my rhythm at the end there.”
And she shows her class in the end, just in time. She forces an error from Sasnovich to see herself to the next round. 
She will not have expected it to be so much of a battle, but that is an authoritative way to end it. 
Job done. 
Katie Boulter wins the third set 6-1. 
Boulter 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 Sasnovich.
Surely this is too great of an advantage for Sasnovich to overturn now. Boulter will serve for the third set after overpowering the Belarussian again.
The Briton needs to channel all of the experience she has accumulated this year to finish Sasnovich off.
Elusive first-serves are the the story of this match so far for Katie Boulter. She has won 73 per cent of points when she lands them. Imagine how much easier things would be for her if she could get that percentage up from the depths. So far she has only hit 9 from 33.
Sasnovich squanders another break point. And then another. Boulter capitalises to stay on top.
It has been a real physical battle from the back of the court, and that will be compounded by the rising heat of the day. Boulter changes things up with a beautiful light-touch volley at the front of the court.
Another double-fault from Sasnovich follows and Boulter gets the break.
Boulter responds by matching her energy. She does a much better job with her first-serves and very quickly restores her lead.
She is still in a slightly precarious position, but it will not remain like that for long if she serves like that.
Sasnovich reminds the crowd that the current rankings can be deceiving. She hits a sweet serve to convincingly take the second game and level the set out.
Boulter battles back after a few loose shots. She does not want the bounce from her strong end to the previous set to ebb away and lets out a frustrated shout after sending another out past the baseline. 
The pair trade blows and Sasnovich looks as if she has used the break to mentally reset. She has a fourth break point but it goes begging.
Boulter is still not landing those first-serves and it is the main thing stopping her from motoring on. She does eventually get the better of Sasnovich after multiple threats to break and takes the first game of the deciding set.
After a 10-minute break, Katie Boulter will serve to get us back underway.
Sasnovich’s delayed return did allow Boulter to have an extra-long debrief with her coach however.
Well, that’s a poor set from Sasnovich this time, whose double-fault to finish summed it up. Boulter held firm in one important long rally in the penultimate game, when it seemed as if her advantage might crumble, but she still isn’t serving great and it could be a nervy finish.
Boulter is inching closer to taking this first-round match the distance as the double faults start to mount for Sasnovich. Her first-serve percentage has dropped from 77 in the first set to 44 now. That will have to improve if she wants to kill the momentum her opponent is building.
The British No 1 stays in control and sends the match to a deciding set.
Katie Boulter wins the second set 6-2.
Back on track! 🔥Katie Boulter responds well to take the second set 6-2 💪 pic.twitter.com/oU9SrtwAuq
Sasnovich is throwing everything she has at Katie Boulter’s forehand, but the Briton comes through the longest rally of the match on top. The Belarussian gees herself up yet again with more of those mini fist pumps and gets herself a chance to break.
But Boulter is really hitting with some zip now though. She hits a crucial first-serve that once again does the trick and avoids danger.
More of those powerful returns from deep for Sasnovich, who anchors herself so low to the ground to produce those shots.
Boulter has not shaken her off in this set yet. 
Katie Boulter shows how much damage she can cause when she finds that first serve. Her overall percentage is below par but she nails three in a row and it wins her the game.
She looks much more comfortable now and she walks off with a confident fist pump.
It’s safe to assume Sasnovich’s resolve will not be broken. She sets up in the same lifted pre-serve pose, looking just as focussed every time.
She keeps plugging away and drilling returns to the baseline. And gets herself on the board.
Sasnovich gives herself the opportunity to break back with another powerful return. She sits in that forehand grip position waiting patiently for the slightest chance to capitalise.
But it’s good work from Boulter to keep the momentum going. 3-0.
Frustrating first set from Boulter who took an early lead and then lost five of the next six games. Her first-serve percentage of 44 is the root of her problems. Sasnovich is an awkward customer and you can’t give her that many second serves to look at. It’s hot and humid out here and it will take a significant effort to get out of this hole.
Boulter comes out with the same energy and immediately puts herself in a position to take three pops at the break. And she gets it on the second. 
Now she’s hitting her stride.
Now then. A lot of work to do for the British No 1. She gets the second set off to a good start.
There’s lots of strong elements on display from Boulter but it is not coming together nicely. If she does come back from that wobble it may have to be by winning ugly.
It’s becoming clear that Boulter is doing the lion’s share of the running. Yet another perfectly drilled shot to the baseline and Sasnovich is 40-0 up with three set points.
Boulter denies her the first attempt, but cannot return on the second. If she does come through the first round she is going to have to do it from a set down.
Aliaksandra Sasnovich wins the first set 7-5.
Boulter is working very hard to stay towards the front of the court where she can push Sasnovich into difficult positions. 
But the Belarussian is resilient, fist-bumping even when she loses a point. She puts the pressure back on her opponent every time Boulter is starting to take control. 
And she breaks again. Boulter does not look happy about it but she’s still very much in this.
That’s more like it. Katie Boulter is back on track after stripping things back to basics. A quick and cleanly executed game from the Briton.
Boulter charges down a loose ball and drives it down the line to generate a rumble of approval from the crowd, who have been relaxed. It is almost 30 degrees and it’s not lunchtime yet — there’s a lot more tennis to come today.
She bounces to the side of the court after taking this game and steadying herself.
But in a few moments Sasnovich will be serving for the first set.
A response is now needed from Katie Boulter, who does just that to quickly get to 30-0. But the momentum fizzles out. Three errors in quick succession and the opportunity goes missing.
She flings her racket in the air in frustration.
Sasnovich thrives in a cross-court rally, and she is managing to lure Boulter into them more often. Looking the more in control of the two now, she sets herself up for another chance to get ahead for the first time in this match.
And she does break. It’s a quick turnaround — Sasnovich leads and leaves Boulter in a spot of bother. 
Sasnovich naturally wants to hug the baseline and rely on her returns. But that is allowing Boulter to move around a lot and take the initiative. 
The Briton moves her opponent around well and hits the early shots so strongly, making use of her height. For a moment it looks as if she is about to break again, but Sasnovich doesn’t panic and holds on.
Boulter looks at her best when she is able to set herself in the middle of the court and dictate points with her heavy groundstrokes. She is working the angles very well.
A much more comfortable game for her and she gets her nose in front. 
Sasnovich is really finding her feet now as a few errors creeping in to Boulter’s game. 
A break and a hold each have levelled things up.
There’s already a sense for Sasnovich at the very early stages of this match that she may need to change her approach to avoid Boulter bearing down on her. 
And there are flashes here of just how comfortable she is on the return. Every point seems to come from one. She threatens to break back…. and does. It’s a strong response to that jittery start.
Boulter immediately looks to press the advantage with a sequence of returns that are just too strong for the Belarussian. She’s doing a lot of damage early on.
And it is an early break for the British No 1. Authoritative start. 
A couple of unforced errors initially from Sasnovich helps Boulter to an easy start. Both players looking to settle in as the sun beats down in New York.
Katie Boulter gets the match started…
Katie Boulter and her opponent are out on the court to warm up. 
Today willl be the British No1’s first match against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who should offer Boulter a stern test in her opening round of the year’s last major.
Sasnovich is tall and strong and likes to hit the ball hard and flat — something Boulter will have to adjust to quickly once we get underway.
Katie Boulter along with British men’s No1 Jack Draper — praised Andy Murray’s contribution to tennis in comments that contrasted noticeably with Emma Raducanu’s much chillier take from Friday afternoon.
Raducanu had raised eyebrows on Friday by suggesting that Murray’s career is “old news”, adding that “it doesn’t feel different at all [now that he has retired].”
The response to Raducanu’s comments was mixed. Some observers pointed out that it was factually correct – the game does indeed stop for nobody – while others speculated that her apparent coldness towards Murray might be connected to the summer’s controversy over her 11th-hour withdrawal from their planned mixed-doubles appointment at Wimbledon.
Either way, there was a very different tone to Boulter’s take when she responded to a similar question about Murray’s impact on Saturday.
Read the full story here.
Katie Boulter has spoken to Sky Sports about the buzz of returning to New York for the US Open:
There’s so much going on the whole time so you kind of can’t rest. So you get excited yourself and it brings that adrenaline. Yeah, I love coming to New York. It’s kind of hard not to. We play to be in atmosphere, right? So this is one of the best for that. I think you’re always going to be a little more anxious because it’s a slam. You know it means so much more. Naturally, you do feel a little bit of anxiety, but you turn that straight into excitement and happiness to get out there.
With mother Susie co-opted as coach, the British No 3 won her first-round match at Flushing Meadows for only the second time.
Dart is enjoying the best period of her career and after making it through to the third round at Wimbledon, she has followed it up by winning her first main draw match at Flushing Meadows.
The 26-year-old dropped just two games in a dominant performance which saw her win 6-1, 6-2 and victory will see her ranking rise to a provisional career high of 66 in the world.
She will have her work cut out to repeat her Wimbledon feat as 13th seed Emma Navarro waits in the next round.
Simon Briggs has the full report here.
Later today, Dan Evans, Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu are all in first-round action.
No1 seed Jannik Sinner, fresh from his Cincinnati Open win, and world No3 Carlos Alcaraz will both be making appearances.
Earlier, Harriet Dart set up a tough second-round bout against 13th seed Emma Navarro. But Jan Choinski became the first British casualty after falling to an agonising five-set defeat to Roberto Carballes Baena.
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You can see the full schedule here.
Katie Boulter will be in US Open first-round action shortly after her compatriot Harriet Dart cruised through her opening match against Chloe Paquet with the loss of only three games.
The British women’s No1 takes on Aliaksandra Sasnovich at Flushing Meadows in New York at 4pm BST. 
Having never gone beyond the second round at a major, Boulter will be hoping to make an impact and some genuine progress at the last Grand Slam of 2024. She has been a consistently strong performer across the year, winning two WTA Tour titles — at the San Diego Open in March and the Nottingham Open in June, where she beat Emma Raducanu in the semifinals.
It follows Boulter’s efforts at the Paris Games, where she went down to Anna Karolína Schmiedlová in the first-round of the singles and narrowly missed out on an Olympic medal alongside Heather Watson in the doubles.
Her Belarussian opponent and world No107, ranked as high as 29th back in 2022, has already won three qualifying matches to make it to the first-round of the tournament proper.