Katie Boulter was defeated 6-1 6-4 by Katerina Siniakova in the semi-finals of the Japan Open. Boulter, who had reached her third WTA semi-final of the 2026 season and reclaimed her place as British No 1 from Sonay Kartal, saw her run end in Osaka. Siniakova started strongly, winning the first five games, and despite Boulter saving a set point and briefly breaking her opponent, the Czech regained control. Boulter showed more resistance in the second set, but Siniakova served out the match for a straightforward victory. Siniakova, ranked world No 86, will face USA's Ashlyn Krueger in Sunday's final. Krueger, the world No 55, defeated fellow American Ann Li in the other semi-final, knocking out the No 1 seed in three sets. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina advanced to the Ningbo Open final after beating Diana Shnaider 6-3 7-5, setting up a clash with Leylah Fernandez. Rybakina, the Australian and US Open champion, showed flashes of her best form despite a foot injury and recent defeats.
Siniakova dominated the early stages of the match against Boulter, racing to a 5-0 lead in the first set. Boulter managed to save a set point before winning her first game, but Siniakova soon closed out the set. In the second set, Boulter offered more resistance, breaking Siniakova at one point, but the Czech quickly reasserted her dominance. The match concluded with Siniakova serving out the victory, securing her place in the final against Krueger. Rybakina, meanwhile, overcame a challenging period to reach the Ningbo Open final, showing resilience after recent setbacks.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing