Mutua Madrid Open 2026: Katie Boulter win sets up Jessica Pegula clash
• 2 minute read
Katie Boulter is set for a blockbuster second round clash with world No.5 Jessica Pegula at the Mutua Madrid Open.
The British No.3 was in impressive form as she comfortably beat American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2.
It marks Boulter’s fourth win in as many matches against the world No.1 and her second career victory in Madrid.
Boulter had the edge against Townsend’s serve throughout the match breaking four times on 14 break point opportunities.
It was a disciplined performance from the Brit that showed how far her game has come on clay over recent years. Boulter’s deep and precise groundstrokes forced a costly errors from Townsend on break points in the second set to wrap up the win in an hour and 33 minutes.
“I feel like my confidence is building on this surface,” Boulter said in her post match interview with Laura Robson on Sky Sports. “I do think I’m getting stronger and believing more coming out of the corners. I think I’m improving match by match.
“I enjoy the competitive nature of this sport, which is being stubborn and not letting go or losing focus. I think that was the difference today, I dug in in the big moments, trusted my shots and then I think in the second set I stepped it up a bit and played better tennis.”
Boulter is now set to face Pegula with the fifth seed coming off the back of a title win in Charleston on the clay.
The Brit and the American have played each other twice with one win apiece. Both matches have come in national team competitions and both went to three sets.
Boulter claimed her career-best win by ranking over Pegula in the 2024 United Cup, while Pegula won a thriller in the semi-finals of last year’s Billie Jean King Cup. This will be their first meeting on clay.
Pegula has been a mainstay in the WTA top 10 over recent years and is a former US Open finalist. The American has been in good form this year, reaching the semi-final in Melbourne and winning two titles at the WTA 1000 Dubai and WTA 500 Charleston.
The British star has seen a return to form in 2026 and claimed her fourth career title at the Ostrava Open back in February.
While clay hasn’t been her favoured surface in the past, the Briton won her first title of the surface at last year’s WTA 125 Paris and reached the quarter-finals in Rouen last week.
“She’s a great player, she’s very in form and plays well on every surface,” Boulter said of her second round opponent. “It’s going to be a massive challenge for me but I have nothing to lose at the end of the day. I can have a go at someone on a surface I don’t love, and I’m going to try and play my way.”
The win also followed the announcement that Boulter will be teaming up with 23-time singles and doubles Grand Slam champion Venus Williams.
They will open against Xinyu Jiang and Yifan Xu of China in the first round on Friday.
“She’s an absolute icon, I’m so excited to be playing with her,” Boulter said. "It’s going to be a dream come true for a little girl who once looked up to her.”
Boulter will face Pegula in the second round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Friday 24 April – watch live on Sky Sports and NOW TV.
