British No.1 tennis star Katie Boulter was left hurt after suffering a ‘horrendous’ US Open defeat to Jessica Bouzas Maneiro on Thursday.
Boulter, seeded 31st in the women’s singles at Flushing Meadows, went into her second-round match as the favourite but Bouzas Maneiro shocked her 7-5 7-5.
The result means that the Spanish world No.74 will next face Jessica Pegula or Sofia Kenin as she looks to produce another upset at the Grand Slam in New York.
Boulter told her team that ‘everything was horrendous’ at the side of the court following her surprise loss to Bouzas Maneiro and the Briton looked dejected.
Fellow Brit Naomi Broady watched the match for the BBC and said: ‘Boulter leaves the court to an appreciative clap from the crowd who came out to support her.
‘She was just not able to produce her best tennis and I think that one will hurt as well, it was a good opportunity for her.’
Boulter has enjoyed a strong 18 months but didn’t have the best preparation heading into the final major tournament of the year.
She had only three completed matches on hard courts heading into the US Open, after prioritising her participation at the Olympic Games in Paris for Team GB.
Boulter has now been eliminated at Flushing Meadows, ending British interest in the women’s singles following the exits of both Harriet Dart and Emma Raducanu.
Raducanu was also hoping to enjoy a deep run at the US Open – where she stunningly won the title three years ago – but she lost her opener to Sofia Kenin.
‘I don’t think she (Emma) played terribly,’ former British No.1 Tim Henman said. ‘She was up against a world-class opponent.
‘This is still all part of a learning journey. She has reflected now and said she came in a little underdone and needed a few more matches. To miss that chunk of Canada and Cincinnati… Perhaps she will do things differently next time.
‘I still think her game is moving in the right direction. There are elements she can do better. This is not the last we are going to see of Emma Raducanu.’
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