Boulter takes Great Britain to United Cup quarter-finals
Katie Boulter defeated Australia’s Olivia Gadecki in straight sets on Wednesday to ensure Britain topped Group F standings
Katie Boulter in Canada in 2023 (Zuma/Panoramic)
Katie Boulter sent Great Britain into the quarter-finals of the 2025 United Cup as she beat Australia’s Olivia Gadecki 6-2, 6-1 in the women’s singles match of a Group F tie on Wednesday (January 1) at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Boulter used just an hour, 12 minutes to end Gadecki’s resistance. She hit four aces and created 10 break points on the Aussie’s serve, succeeding five times, as she averaged 63 percent on second-serve returns.
The Brit’s straight-set victory meant her side would finish as group winners and play in the quarter-finals.
“I’ve been trying to avoid all the stats on all this but we were at dinner with Laura Robson last night and she thankfully told me I had to win in straight sets,” Boulter said. “So I was feeling the pressure from last night, so really appreciate that, Laura. Very happy to start my new year like that,” Boulter said. “I feel like I’ve lost a lot of sleep recently over the thought of playing my fiancé in doubles so I’m so tired. I’m just so happy to get through this rubber, I’m not going to lie.”
Alex De Minaur equals the score
Following his fiancee’s exploits, Alex de Minaur stepped up for Australia and notched up a 6-2, 6-1 win against Billy Harris to level the score and keep his nation’s quarter-final hopes alive.
The world No 9 recorded six aces and five break-point conversions to complete the win in an hour, 17 minutes.
“Having all the scenarios in my head made it a little tough but I’m very happy with the win against a tough opponent,” he said after the win. “I had to play solid tennis to give us a fighting chance.”
The Australians need to win this tie in order to have any chance of qualifying for the last eight. The hopes rest on De Minaur and Gadecki’s shoulders as the duo take on Charles Broom and Olivia Nicholls in the mixed-doubles decider.
