Physical Health or Ranking - Boulter's Melbourne Grand Slam Dilemma
Britain's Katie Boulter says she feels she has to "decide between my body and my world standing" as the competition persists for a spot in the upcoming January Australian Open main draw.
While the regular WTA Tour tournament schedule is finished, there are still standing points to be earned in South American nations, Argentina, various venues and international tournaments.
The women's participant roster for the initial Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be based on the international positions of the December cutoff, which could present a challenging situation for competitors close to the selection threshold.
Physical Setbacks
Former British top-ranked player Boulter tore an hip muscle in her final event of the year in international locations last month, and is now weighing up whether to participate in the WTA 125 Challenger event in French locations, France, in the initial week of December.
Boulter's recent injury, and the reality she would need to achieve at least multiple victories in the European event to enhance her position, means she may well end up not participating.
Varying Approaches
In opposition, male athletes are not facing the equivalent predicament, as for the initial instance the male Australian Open entry list will be created from present week's positions, which is the ATP's formal annual-final ranking date.
The modification is designed to preventing players from seeking ranking points during what is essentially the rest interval.
Training Transitions
This period has been a difficult one for Boulter.
She won only 14 elite primary competition contests and recently split with instructor Biljana Veselinovic after a extended partnership in which she won multiple WTA championships.
"Biljana is an incredible instructor, and an remarkably good individual as well, which makes things extremely hard," Boulter stated.
The quest for a different instructor is currently ongoing, seeking someone who has elite expertise as Boulter maintains the belief she can be a world-class player.
Career Objectives
"Progressing with a replacement instructor, an important factor I'm completely sure on is that they are going to be someone who has extensive experience in how to make it to the very top level of this sport," she said.
"I've been positioned as high as 23 and I believe I can return to that level. I don't think my performance has disappeared, I feel the steadiness must develop.
"My objective is not merely to be placed 50, forty, thirty, twenty - we've been there. The goal is to be among the top twenty."