Thu Jan 08 06:50:00 UTC 2026: ### Boulter and Kartal Advance in Auckland, Svitolina Looms
The Story:
British players Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal have secured victories in the first round of the WTA Auckland tournament. Boulter defeated Ukrainian qualifier Yulia Starodubtseva 6-3, 6-3 and is set to face top seed Elina Svitolina. Meanwhile, Kartal overcame sixth seed Janice Tjen 6-1, 6-7(4), 6-3 and will compete against Ella Seidel of Germany in the next round. Francesca Jones has also advanced, setting up a second-round match against Sinja Kraus.
Key Points:
- Katie Boulter defeated Yulia Starodubtseva in straight sets and will face Elina Svitolina.
- Despite a ranking difference, Boulter’s return stats are comparable to Svitolina’s, with a slightly better break point conversion rate.
- Sonay Kartal defeated sixth seed Janice Tjen in three sets.
- Kartal faces Ella Seidel in the second round.
- Svitolina had a mixed end to her 2025 season, reaching the Montreal quarter-final but suffering first-round exits in Cincinnati and the US Open.
- Francesca Jones defeated second seed Emma Navarro.
Key Takeaways:
- Boulter faces a tough challenge against Svitolina, requiring aggressive play to overcome Svitolina’s defensive skills.
- Kartal demonstrated resilience after losing the second set, ultimately securing a victory.
- British players are making a strong showing at the Auckland tournament.
- Svitolina is considered the favourite against Boulter.
First Piper 