Physical Health or Ranking - Boulter's Melbourne Grand Slam Predicament
Britain's Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "choose between my body and my ranking" as the competition persists for a place in the upcoming January Australian Open primary competition.
While the standard WTA Tour season is finished, there are still standing points to be gained in Latin American countries, regional locations, various venues and France.
The women's competitor lineup for the first Grand Slam of the forthcoming season will be calculated from the global standings of 8 December, which could cause a dilemma for players approaching the selection threshold.
Physical Setbacks
Previous British number one Boulter experienced an abductor in her final event of the year in Hong Kong last timeframe, and is now considering whether to compete in the WTA 125 secondary tournament in Angers, the European nation, in the first week of December.
Boulter's current physical issue, and the situation she would need to secure at least multiple victories in the French tournament to enhance her ranking, means she may well ultimately not playing.
Different Systems
In contrast, men's competitors are not confronting the same predicament, as for the initial instance the men's Australian Open participant roster will be established from present week's rankings, which is the ATP's formal season-concluding standing calculation.
The adjustment is designed to discouraging competitors from chasing standing points during what is fundamentally the break period.
Professional Adjustments
This year has been a demanding one for Boulter.
She achieved merely fourteen Tour-level main-draw games and recently split with instructor Biljana Veselinovic after a lengthy partnership in which she secured three WTA victories.
"Biljana is an outstanding instructor, and an extremely quality individual as well, which makes things extremely hard," Boulter commented.
The quest for a new instructor is actively progressing, looking for an individual who has top-tier expertise as Boulter continues to think she can be a top-20 athlete.
Future Goals
"Progressing with a new coach, an important factor I'm completely sure on is that they are going to be an individual who has extensive knowledge in how to succeed to the highest echelon of this sport," she said.
"I've been placed as advanced as twenty-three and I know I can get back to that level. I don't believe my standard has disappeared, I think the consistency should improve.
"My goal is not simply to be ranked 50, forty, 30, 20 - we've accomplished that. The goal is to be inside the elite group."