Lexus Nottingham Open 2025: Two-time defending champion Katie Boulter exits in quarter-final defeat to McCartney Kessler
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Katie Boulter’s hopes of claiming a third consecutive Lexus Nottingham Open title have come to an end after she lost out to world No.42 McCartney Kessler in the quarter-finals.
Boulter had managed to fight back from a set down to force a decider but couldn’t quite get over the line against the inspired American, who eventually prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes.
While her loss might have marked the end of her two-year reign in Nottingham, Boulter leaves the tournament with plenty of positives to take from yet another quarter-final run at a WTA event.
"I feel like today I played some good tennis," Boulter reflacted in her post-match press conference. "I think it's unfortunate that I lost today but I think it was one of my better matches here.
"Just because I win a match doesn't mean it's my best tennis, just because I lose a match doesn't mean it's my worst tennis so, I'm allowed to be beaten on a day and I feel like she (Kessler) did that."
The British No.2 will now take the next week to recover, reset and get back on the practice court as she shifts her focus to the third Grand Slam of the season at Wimbledon where she will look to surpass last year's run of the second round.
"It will be a re-group, I'm not entirely sure I haven't really thought too much about it yet. I'm not playing next week, if I were chasing points and rankings then I'd be playing next week but my plan is not to because I want to prioritise Wimbledon which is something I've not done before, so I want to try something different."
Kessler made the faster start in the quarter-final clash against the home favourite as she raced out to an early break after Boulter coughed up a costly double fault.
The British No.2 managed to claw back from but yet another shaky service game presented Kessler with the opportunity to take control of the opening set.
The American latched onto a second serve, launching a thunderous forehand return which Boulter sent long to hand her opponent a 5-3 lead before she put away an overhead smash to seal a one set lead.
Growing up just a short distance away in Leicestershire, Boulter spent many of her early years playing at the Lexus Nottingham Tennis Centre and it’s a venue which has seen her produce some of her best tennis in recent years.
The two-time defending champion kick-started her comeback in the second where she made her move early. At 2-1, Kessler conjured up a couple of double faults to allow Boulter into the game.
Catching sight of a first break point of the set, Boulter made her chances count - throwing up a defensive lob to leave the American scrambling before she put the set to bed to draw level.
A trio of breaks kick-started the deciding set but it was Boulter who looked to be well on her way to reaching the final four as she opened up a 4-2 lead.
However, a late twist in the tale saw Kessler - who last week pushed world No.4 Qinwen Zheng to three-sets at the HSBC Championships - spark a late comeback.
The 25-year-old reeled off the last four games in a row, including two breaks on the Brit’s serve to snap Boulter’s dominant winning streak in Nottingham and reach her fourth WTA semi-final.
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