"You have to win the match, they won't lose it": Katie Boulter shares secret behind securing big win over Linda Noskova at Japan Open

Britain’s Katie Boulter has opened up about her feelings after securing an impressive first-round win at the Japan Open. The 29-year-old defeated the second-seed Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in the round of 32 in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 6-3.

It was Boulter’s 18th win in 36 matches in 2025. Boulter was recently quoted in a report by Sky Sports where she stated that she was ‘really pleased’ with her performance in the match. Boulter stated that her strategy was about winning the match, knowing fully well that a player of the quality of Noskova will not going to lose it easily anyway.

"I'm really pleased with my performance today,” she said. It's been a difficult few weeks. I just tried to bet on myself, commit to the ball and go for it. Against someone like Linda, you have to win the match, they won't lose it. I went out there and played a good match, so I'm happy. I'm not sure what it is, but I gravitate towards Japan. I love it here. I played here many times when I was younger. I don't know why I have great feelings here but it showed on the court."

Boulter’s next round opponent will be Romania’s Sorana Cirstea. The 35-year-old cemented her spot in the round of 16 after beating Moyuka Uchijima of Japan with a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. It will be the first-ever meeting between the two players in professional tennis.

The win was an important one for Boulter, who has seen a lot of downs and a few ups in the ongoing season. Earlier this year, Boulter secured her first top-20 win over Spain’s Paula Badosa in the first round of Wimbledon with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. However, her joy was short-lived as she was knocked out after losing in the second round to Argentina’s Solana Sierra with a score of 6-7, 6-2, 6-1.

Talking after the match, Boulter admitted back then that it was a ‘tough pill to swallow’. Boulter also admitted that at times like these, she feels like her moment might never come. Boulter also went on to praise her opponent, Sierra, who, according to her, was the better player on the day.

"I mean, of course it hurts," said Boulter back then. "It's a really tough pill to swallow. It always is here. Unfortunately it's just the way that it is. Sometimes I just have to accept that my moment might not come at some point. I'm just going to keep working hard and keep trying my hardest. Ultimately that's all I can do and keep putting myself out there and keep improving every single year. I think you can look at a piece of paper and be like, 'Oh, this is a terrible loss'. Ultimately, she played better than me on the day. That's how it is. I thought she played a good match. She was hitting it very fast at me. I'm not entirely sure. It's not often that I feel like that. I didn't feel like that against Paula. Even when she was hitting full power, and I would say she's someone who has one of the most powerful shots on tour, I didn't feel the same."

Later, in an interview with British media outlet The Independent, Boulter was in a much more positive mood and expressed optimism that, sooner than later, her time will come. Boulter also highlighted the importance of not thinking too much about defeats in a long season, as every player will have ups and downs.

“The season is very much non-stop,” said Boulter back in August. “No one ever gets a break. At the end of the season a lot of people start dropping like flies. I was able to push on and then finish my year really strong, which helped massively. Mentally, it was a milestone for me, because I managed to push through a lot of tough, tough moments out there. I think it’s very easy to get wrapped up in losses. You lose over 50 per cent of the time. The best in the world lose 50 per cent of the time.”

She continued by saying: “But I think what I meant by that [comment] was, I keep putting myself in positions where I feel like I can go far. I think my tennis in the previous rounds had been extremely good, and then I go out, and unfortunately, I can’t get the job done. I could have easily lost in the first round to a top 10 player, and we’d all be sat here going, ‘That makes sense, tough draw.’ But I have to take the positives where I actually beat a top 10 player on Centre Court. I think it’s just, playing more matches and getting myself more into those positions, and my time will come, and I have to believe that.”