Madrid Open 2025: Katie Boulter earns first WTA clay-court win by beating Katerina Siniakova

British number one Katie Boulter has broken new ground by earning the first WTA Tour clay-court win of her career at the age of 28.

Boulter moved into the Madrid Open second round with a 4-6 6-2 6-1 victory over Czech opponent Katerina Siniakova.

Despite being established at the top end of the game, Boulter’s experience and exposure on the red dirt has been limited.

The world number 40’s appearance at the WTA 1,000 tournament in the Spanish capital – an important event in the build-up to next month’s French Open – is only the fifth time she has competed in the main draw of a tour-level clay event.

“I’ve always known clay is going to be my toughest surface but I never really gave myself the chance to play well on it and build on it,” she told BBC Sport.

“With injuries, and the timing of them, last year was my first clay-court season.

“I felt my level last year was really improving. I got unlucky not to beat [Paula] Badosa in the first round of the French Open – and I felt I deserved more from last season.”

Boulter’s reward is a second-round match against Italian sixth seed Jasmine Paolini, who reached the French Open final last year.

“I hope I can show that – even if not this week or next week – I can play well on clay,” she added.

“You see a lot of big ball-strikers playing well and I asked myself why it can’t be me.”

Meanwhile, British number five Francesca Jones moved into the main draw after winning her second qualifying match.

Jones, playing in her second event since collapsing on court this month, won 7-6 (7-3) 3-6 6-1 against Spain’s Cristina Bucsa.

It will be the first time the 24-year-old plays in the main draw of a WTA 1000 tournament – the most prestigious outside of the four majors.