Lexus Nottingham Open 2025: Back-to-back reigning champion Katie Boulter gets set for historic title challenge
• 3 MINUTE READ
History potentially awaits for Britain’s Katie Boulter at the Lexus Nottingham Open this week as the 28-year-old goes in pursuit of her third consecutive women’s singles title.
Celebrating it’s 10-year anniversary as a WTA event this year, no female player has won the title in that time more than Boulter and this year, she could become the first to ever complete the ‘three-peat’ in tournament history.
Despite all that, the British star and her family arrived at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre feeling relaxed after making her grass court debut at the HSBC Championships last week.
“I actually feel like a weight has lifted off my shoulders this week,” Boulter said, speaking ahead of her first round match. “It’s amazing to be back here, I have such good memories.
“Some of my very first tennis memories are from here as well. I have a lot of history and to have my family here means more than anything. For me family is everything and to have them here is truly special.”
Boulter made an impressive start to her campaign at The Queen’s Club last week – defeating former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4 before eventually bowing out to world No.12 Diana Shnaider in three sets.
The two-time Nottingham champion is starting to find her game again on the grass and feels there is more to come throughout the rest of the summer.
“It’s a very different vibe this year with the scheduling,” she said. “I’m used to coming here and starting here and getting quite a few matches under my belt going into the second week.
“To get a couple of matches at Queen’s was great – they were against very good players. Especially in my second match I thought I started extremely well and showed what I am capable of on a grass court.
“Coming here this week is another chance that I can play well on this surface. Hopefully I can gain a bit of momentum going into Wimbledon.”
While it would be only natural for a two-time reigning champion to feel the pressure ahead of another title challenge at your home event, Boulter has an aura of calm around her here at Nottingham this week.
“In a way I don’t feel like I’ve got too much pressure on me here with the (ranking) points coming off last week,” she admitted. “It’s quite a relaxed feeling at the moment but once I get out there tomorrow, I’ll be fighting very hard.
“It’s a strange feeling. I always though when I came back here, I’d feel a lot of pressure and stress about defending the title. I felt that last year, but I don’t as much this year.
“I feel like I’m here to enjoy it and it just can’t get any better. I’ve already made more memories than I could possibly imagine at this tennis centre.”
First up for Boulter is a meeting with one of the standout stars from Wimbledon last year – New Zealand’s Lulu Sun – before a potential clash with fellow Briton Sonay Kartal in the next round.
With the prospect of a fourth career WTA title on the line at the tennis centre that she used to play at as a kid – Boulter is ready to fight through every match.
“Having two titles here – a third would be amazing, but I also know what’s realistic,” Boulter explained. “Every single player here is incredible and it’s going to be a battle every single day.
“I’m aiming for as many wins here as I can possibly get. You don’t get the opportunity to have too many weeks like this and I’m feeling calm about it all.
“Lulu was a quarter-finalist at Wimbledon, she beat Emma (Raducanu) last year so I know what she’s capable of. I’ve got my eyes very much set on that match and I’m going to have to play some of my best tennis to win that one.
“I would love the chance to play Sonay in round two but I have to get there first.”
Follow the latest results and updates from the Lexus Nottingham Open
Title Partner
Official Partners
