"I have to be realistic with it": Katie Boulter highlights objective for Madrid Open

Britain’s Katie Boulter has revealed her objectives going into this year’s Madrid Open. The WTA 1000 event is set to begin on Tuesday, where players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.

Boulter is set to begin her campaign on the first day of the competition against the Czech Republic’s Katerina Siniakova in the round of 128. Last year, the reigning world number 40 was given direct access to the round of 64, where she lost to America’s Robin Montgomery with a score of 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Boulter has spoken to Sky Sports ahead of the mega-event, where she explained her objective this year at the Madrid Open. The 28-year-old stated that she is not stressing about the results and her focus is to improve her performance on the clay court.

“There was definitely some great things about the [last] season,” she said. “So proud that I managed to get through the whole season. I didn’t have any injuries so that was a good moment for me. Obviously it was a huge worry and that was why I didn’t play many of them before. For me, that was progress in itself. It is pretty difficult to mentally stay in a good place, week in week out, when you are not getting as many wins as you would like. My perspective coming into this year is a little bit more relaxed. I am not too stressed about getting that match wins. Its about getting my game better and doing the best I can physically to set myself up for a great grass season. So I am just being smart with everything.”

Boulter also talked about how she is not concerned about not being given a first-round bye. Instead, the Leicestershire-born stated that she looks at the development as a positive one because she believes it is better for her to play more matches on the clay court.

“I have a goal to be seeded in other tournaments,” she said. “For me, on clay, it actually not a bad thing to get more matches. I actually find myself quiet excited to hopefully build my way into tournaments rather than kind of being thrown into deep end when you are expected to win. Ultimately you are in the second round playing someone who has played in the conditions and gotten used to it. So it is a good thing for me and ultimately it doesn’t matter too much how these tournaments go. Its about progressing myself, keeping myself healthy, just trying to get better and better on clay. I have to be realistic with it.”