Katie Boulter digs deep to win thrilling final-set battle with Rebecca Marino at Australian Open
Katie Boulter survived an intense encounter with Canada’s Rebecca Marino to help set a new British record at the Australian Open.
For the first time, six British players have won first-round matches but Boulter had to work extremely hard to join Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart and Jacob Fearnley in round two.
The 22nd seed was on the ropes early in the third set against her 98th-ranked opponent but, with fiancé Alex De Minaur heading from his own victory on Rod Laver Arena to cheer her on, Boulter dug out a 6-4 3-6 7-5 win.
“That was way too stressful for me,” said Boulter, who began her season in great form at the United Cup and headed to Melbourne Park with expectations high.
“I would have preferred a much easier match. She came out firing today. That was massively mental for me. I’ve been playing great tennis on the practice court and I really wanted to put that on the match court but sometimes when you try to force it it doesn’t work and I found that out tonight.
“I’m just happy I found a way and sometimes that’s what these first-round matches are about.”
In the third set, De Minaur, who had been watching the contest from an exercise bike while he warmed down, sprinted down the steps to join his partner’s team.
Boulter needed all the support she could get and there was disbelief on her face at some of the shots Marino was making.
But the British No 1 finally found some traction on return with the Canadian serving at 5-6 and took her second match point when Marino netted.
Press Association
12:17 PM GMT
‘Courageoue Katie’
12:11 PM GMT
A superb show of guts
That was a superb show of guts – and talent of course – from the British No 1. She was on the ropes from when she was broken at the start of the second set onwards. Marino cruised through the second set to level the match, after Boulter had looked in control in the first set. In the third set, it felt at times that Boulter was hanging onto the coat tails of her powerful opponent, who grew into the match as her service became dominant and her confidence grew.
Marino seemed to hold her service games with relative ease while Boulter seemed at risk of losing hers throughout the deciding set, with the match looking set for a tie-break. Then, in the final game, Boulter somehow summoned the energy and guile to finally break her Canadian opponent.
She was a bit lucky to get through this and will no doubt feel a huge rush of relief, but it is something to build on as she looks to the second round.
11:58 AM GMT
“Aussie Katie” Boulter speaks
“That was way too stressful for me! That was massively mental for me. She was playing great and I know how tough she can be. But sometimes you just have to find a way in the first round.”
The interviewer asks if they can call her “Aussie Katie”.
“This is the closest I have ever felt to [playing] at home. And it’s all down to you guys [the fans, who cheer]. As soon as I got here I felt the love, thank you so much.”
11:54 AM GMT
Boulter wins 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter does superbly to get back to 15-15 then Marino produces an excellent cross-court backhand to retake the lead. Boulter fights back again and the crowd roars. Marino finds the net and Boulter has a match point! The first serve is good and Boulter goes long. Deuce.
Boulter wins another tough rally and is on match point again. And she does it. Unbelievable. Marino’s shot hits the net and Boulter doubles over in joy – and relief, no doubt.
11:47 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-6, 6-5 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter falls to 0-30 but then hangs on in a thumping rally and serves big to level it at 30-30 and forces Marino into an error for 40-30. Tense stuff. A big first serve is too much for her rival and she goes 6-5 up in the decider.
11:43 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 3-6, 5-5 Marino* (denotes server)
Marino eases to 40-0 with a sense of inevitability again and closes it out.
11:41 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-6, 5-4 Marino (denotes server)
Superb play – serving, athleticism and stroke play – from Boulter to go 30-0 up.
Marino pulls one back but Boulter forces her too wide with her next first serve then holds serve with a strong first next delivery.
11:38 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 3-6, 4-4 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter’s big problem at the moment is that Marino’s service is looking almost invincible. She manages a point in this game as the Canadian inches 6-5 ahead on the ace count and levels the second set again. It’s been two hours since this match began.
11:34 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-6, 4-3 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter finds another ace to go 30-15 ahead and then another strong serve forces Marino into the net. The British No 1 then places a lovely shot in the corner. That’s more like it.
11:32 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 3-6, 3-3 Marino* (denotes server)
De Minaur is here to support his soon-to-be wife in person now, but Marino cruises through her service game.
11:28 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-6, 3-2 Marino (denotes server)
Again, Boulter’s service game seems so much harder, so much more fraught.
She sends a tired-looking shot long and faces two break points at 15-40. She wins one back with an ace then takes it to deuce with a superb stun-volley at the net.
Then she takes advantage with a quite brilliant forehand pass down the line and finally screams “come on!” as Marino goes long on the next rally. What a battle we have here.
11:22 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 3-6, 2-2 Marino* (denotes server)
Two booming first serves from Marino are too much for Boulter, who is fighting for her life in this tournament now.
The Canadian makes it 40-0 and looks to close it out but Boulter produces a wonderful backhand pass to stay in it.
Not for long though as Marino hits a incredible forehand from way out wide that hits the corner of Boulter’s court. Amazing shot.
11:19 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-6, 2-1 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter looks like she might be made to struggle again then fires down two aces and another strong first serve which Marino cannot deal with. This is shaping up nicely for the denouement.
11:16 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 3-6, 1-1 Marino* (denotes server)
Marino is still looking pretty unruffled and cruises to 40-15 with two massive serves. The Eurosport commentator says Marino is “like a big spider in the middle of her web” controlling the course.
The Canadian spiderwoman closes the game out with zero fuss.
11:12 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-6, 1-0 Marino (denotes server)
You really feel Boulter has to hold her serve here but she goes 15-30 down and is looking a bit flat. But she gets level and edges ahead with a strong first serve and lets out a roar, but then finds the net for deuce.
She gets on advantage but looks a bit tired, while Marino looks inspired and brings it back to deuce with a fizzing cross-court pass. Boulter finds the net again, but so does Marino. Deuce again.
From somewhere, Boulter digs out an ace, her second of the match, then forces Marino into a net error and lets out another gutsy roar. If she wins, that will feel crucial.
The camera cuts to De Minaur doing a fist pump while on an exercise bike. Have a rest man!
11:02 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 3-6 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter shows some chutzpah to get back to 15-15 but Marino’s serve remains a strong weapon and she powers to 40-15 then takes the second set by winning another big rally with a fierce forehand down the line. We are going to a deciding set!
10:59 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 3-5 Marino (denotes server)
There has been a technical fault with the automatic line call but the umpire says “we can continue”.
Marino is really on a roll here, smashing her way back to 30-30, and Boulter needs to find a way to get back on top.
She does with a rare good first serve (her success rate is below 50 per cent) then closes it out as Marino hits the net.
The Canadian will serve for the second set now…
10:54 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 2-5 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter makes life difficult for Marino but the Canadian is looking relaxed and confident and sees off then challenge, winning another attritional rally when the Briton goes long for the decisive point.
Meanwhile, Boulter’s fiancé, local lad and No 8 seed De Minaur, has beaten Van de Zandschulp in straight sets on the Rod Laver court. Will he pop over to the Kia Arena to support his better half?
10:50 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 2-4 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter finds the sweet spot to fire into the corners and past Marino, despite her being on the baseline, and go 40-0 up.
The Canadian fights back to 40-15 but goes long on another booming rally and Boulter claws one back.
10:45 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 1-4 Marino* (denotes server)
Another pretty straightforward service game for Marino, who apparently has one of the best serves on the circuit and is now showing it. Boulter just needs to hang in there, hold her next serve then try to find a weakness on the Canadian’s next serve. Although there do not look to be many at the moment.
10:41 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 1-3 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter has to hold here but she finds herself 15-30 down and Marino, naturally, looks emboldened. A lucky bounce off the top of the net gets Boulter back to 30-30 and she mixes it up to force the Canadian into an error for 40-30 then stamps her dominance on a thumping rally to hold. Well done.
10:36 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 0-3 Marino* (denotes server)
… but unlike the first set, Boulter cannot break straight back. Marino storms to 40-0 and finishes Boulter off with a second-serve ace! Trouble for the British No 1.
10:35 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4, 0-2 Marino (denotes server)
Marino goes 15-30 with a delicious forehand pass down the line when there really did not look to be enough space for it.
She then stuns Boulter with a vicious return to earn two break points. Boulter finds the net and, just like at the start of the first set, the Briton has dropped her first service game.
10:31 AM GMT
Boulter 6-4, 0-1 Marino* (denotes server)
Strong first service game in the second set for the Canadian and she wins it to 15. That will settle her down for the challenge ahead.
It’s 9.30pm in Melbourne and Google tells me it’s 22C there. All right for some.
10:27 AM GMT
Boulter* 6-4 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter looks like she means business, forcing Marino into back-of-the-court errors to take the first two points, but the Briton lets her rival back in for 30-30.
Another shot that pushes Marino too deep gives her a set point, although a fierce return off the next second serve forces Boulter’s shot into the net. A superb volley gives the British No1 advantage but she finds the net after a booming rally.
Marino fights back superbly for advantage, as Boulter looks a bit tense, although she gets it back to deuce with a strong first serve. She’s not getting enough of her first serves in though.
Then, on her third set point, Boulter fires in a strong serve and Marino’s return ripples the net. First set to the Briton!
10:18 AM GMT
Boulter 5-4 Marino* (denotes server)
The Eurosport team are really building up the ‘grizzled battler’ image for Marino and the 34-year-old is certainly game, but Boulter often seems to just have a bit too much for her.
Still, the Canadian World No 98 digs deep to just about hang on to her serve and now Boulter will serve for the first set…
10:14 AM GMT
Boulter* 5-3 Marino (denotes server)
A strong service game from Boulter and her first ace of the match gives her 40-15, from where Marino hits the net on Boulter’s next first serve.
10:10 AM GMT
Boulter 4-3 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter steams to 0-40 up and then breaks by forcing Marino very deep into the back court from where the Canadian cannot get her feet in a strong position and she scoops her return long. A great moment for Boulter to break ahead.
Meanwhile, on the Rod Laver Court, Boulter’s hubby De Minaur has gone two sets to love up.
10:07 AM GMT
Boulter* 3-3 Marino (denotes server)
The Eurosport team inform us that the Aussie crowd have adopted Boulter as (almost) one of their own since her engagement to De Minaur and that the British No 1 has started picking up the Aussie twang – although she doesn’t like Vegemite apparently. They don’t say if this is because she is remaining loyal to Marmite or just doesn’t like the stuff.
Meanwhile, Boulter’s service game comes to life on the third point with a big-hitting rally that the Briton wins. That propels her to victory as Marino fails to deal with a strong first serve, sending it long.
10:02 AM GMT
Boulter 2-3 Marino* (denotes server)
Marino takes a 30-0 lead on her serve, Boulter gets one back as the Canadian finds the net, but the Briton then goes too long. A double fault gives Boulter a life-line but she finds the net off a second serve and Marino holds.
09:58 AM GMT
Boulter* 2-2 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter seems to have found her confidence and relaxed, a decisive forehand volley taking her to 40-0 before she wraps it up with a backhand pass down the line. Back level.
09:55 AM GMT
Boulter 1-2 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter fights back – or perhaps Marino crumbles – taking a 15-40 lead, before the Canadian wins the next point.
But Boulter – whose kit is looking a bit green and gold (in a nod to the local crowd and fiancé De Minaur perhaps?) – wins her remaining break point and is back on an even keel.
09:51 AM GMT
Boulter* 0-2 Marino (denotes server)
Boulter trails 15-30 in her first service game but gets back to evens then powers to 40-30 with a lovely backhand strike down the line, before skewering the next high and long for deuce. It’s a hard-fought first service game for the Briton as Marino lives up to her ‘battler’ tag, earning two advantages and she eventually takes her third as Boulter hits two double faults in a row!
09:42 AM GMT
Boulter 0-1 Marino* (denotes server)
Boulter receives and goes 30-15 up but Marino responds with an ace down the middle, then the Briton finds the net in the following rally. A superb cross-court forehand by Boulter then brings up deuce but Marino fights back and Boulter scoops one long to allow the Canadian to hold on her first service game.
09:36 AM GMT
Warming up
Boulter and Marino are out on court warming up and the Eurosport commentary team are backing the Briton to go deep into this tournament.
Meanwhile, they refer to the Canadian as “a battler” and “a journeywoman”.
09:29 AM GMT
‘A cushy first couple of rounds’
Let’s take a quick look at what our tennis correspondent predicted for Boulter in the first round and beyond before the tournament…
Katie Boulter (22) v Rebecca Marino
Out fourth round
Boulter’s seeding has delivered her a cushy first couple of rounds, as these things go, but life is likely to get tougher in round three against Beatriz Haddad Maia – assuming that no one springs an upset on the ultra-competitive Brazilian in the first few days. Still, it is about time that Boulter lived up to her ability at the majors, where she has never previously reached the last 16. So let’s say she gets there this time, on the basis of some strong performances at the recent United Cup in Sydney. Her opponent at that stage would probably be last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini.
09:27 AM GMT
Coming soon
Musetti has seen off his fellow Italian Arnaldi 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3 so Boulter and Marino will be the next players on the Kia Arena.
Meanwhile Boulter’s fiancé De Minaur is facing stiffer resistance now from Dutchman Van de Zandschulp, who leads 4-3 in the second set after the Aussie cruised the first 6-1.
09:20 AM GMT
Raducanu wins
Earlier on today in Melbourne Emma Raducanu showed great resolve to reach the second round. The British No 2 saw off Russian 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova 7-6, 7-6 despite struggling heavily with her second serve. But most encouragingly, Raducanu did not let such yips faze her, and had the mental strength to battle on for victory.
Read our tennis correspondent Simon Briggs’ full report here.
09:16 AM GMT
Next up…
Boulter and Marino are next up on the Kia Arena after the all-Italian men’s duel between Matteo Arnaldi and Lorenzo Musetti.
Musetti is looking to wrap things up sharpish as he leads 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 5-3.
09:13 AM GMT
Fiancé in action
Boulter will hopefully not be distracted by events on the main court – the Rod Laver Arena – where her Australian fiancé Alex De Minaur, the eighth seed, is enjoying the backing of the main crowd as he takes on unseeded Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp. De Minaur currently leads 6-1, 3-1…
09:04 AM GMT
Time to step up
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Katie Boulter’s first-round match against Rebecca Marino at the Australian Open. Good morning if you’re in the UK, good evening if you happen to be Down Under.
If the British No 1 (and world No 25) triumphs it would mean these fair isles have six players in the second round in Melbourne for the first time. Earlier today in Australia, Emma Raducanu overcame nerves and her dodgy second serve to battle past 26th seed Ekaterina Alexandrova, but the British men’s No 2, Cameron Norrie, crashed out 6-7, 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 to the big-serving Italian Matteo Berrettini. However, four British players – Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley, Harriet Dart, Jodie Burrage – won yesterday. That means Raducanu’s win equalled the record of five Britons in the second round from 2017.
Standing in the way of Boulter, who is seeded 22nd, is the unseeded Marino of Canada. The 34-year-old Vancouverite is ranked 98th in the world, having achieved her career high of 38th back in the distant mists of 2011. She has no titles to her name and her best run at the majors was reaching the third round at the French and US Opens, in 2011 and 2022, respectively. So, on paper at least, the Briton should win.
Boulter, 28, has built up a decent CV in WTA tournaments, winning titles in Nottingham (2024 and 2023), San Diego (2024) and reaching the final in Hong Kong last year. However, she has not been able to translate such success to the grand slams, with third-round appearances at Wimbledon (2022 and 2023) and the US Open (2023) her best showings so far. The second round is the furthest she has gone at the Australian Open, in 2019 and last year. Now – on the evocatively named Kia Arena – feels like the time to start replicating her prowess from the circuit on the big stage.
