Katie Boulter is taking her exit from the Australian Open with a pinch of salt, but not just because she lost to Veronika Kudermetova in the second round. The British player, marking her 15th Grand Slam appearance, has never advanced past the third round. To make matters worse, she faced a barrage of unsolicited advice from those who weren’t professionals themselves. That must be frustrating, right? Yet, Boulter knows how to handle feedback after years on the court.

The 22nd seed struggled with her serve and racked up unforced errors, allowing Kudermetova, now ranked 75th, to secure the win. Boulter aimed to become the fourth Briton to reach the last 32 in singles this year, which would have set a record for British players. “Obviously losing a match like that hurts, but I’m someone that’s going to keep showing up,” she said in the post-match press conference. Her exit leaves Emma Raducanu as the only British woman in the third round, while Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley advanced to R3 on the men’s side. Keeping her head high, she added, “I’m going to have my moment, I’m sure of it.”

After the match, Boulter faced a wave of criticism on social media, adding to her disappointment. However, she addressed the negativity head-on. Taking to Instagram, she posted a lighthearted message: “My face when keyboard warriors become experts in how to be a pro tennis player 😂😂.” Her fiance, Alex de Minaur, showed his support with a playful comment: “Hit the ball in the court… Not that hard 😂.”

This comes just days after calling Australia her second home, Boulter battled nerves and frustration in a tense first-round match against Rebecca Marino. Despite early double faults and racket-smacking outbursts, she fought back to break Marino at 5-6 in the second set and sealed the win on her second match point. Describing the match as a “marathon,” she admitted it was “way too stressful” but thanked the crowd for their unwavering support.

Boulter calls Australia the “home away from home”

After a hard-fought victory against the Canadian player, Katie Boulter celebrated her 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win at Kia Arena in Melbourne on January 14. Despite facing a strong second set from Marino, Boulter rallied in the decisive third set to secure her spot in the second round. “I would have preferred an easier match, but she came out firing today! I mean literally, it’s because of you guys in the crowd that I made it through this one—thank you so much!”

When asked if Australia feels like a “home away from home,” Boulter replied, “It’s funny you say that. This is the closest I’ve ever felt to home.” While she credited the fans for their support, there was another reason for her comfort—a certain Aussie in the crowd. Alex de Minaur rushed over to cheer her on after his match against Botic Van de Zandschulp. Hearing the crowd from the neighboring arena put her at ease, knowing he had won. “Having him come out and support means pretty much everything to me,” she said. “Having the extra positivity from my bench makes the difference.”

Although Boulter did not advance to the third round alongside de Minaur, who will face Alex Michelsen in the fourth round on Monday at Rod Laver Arena, he still showed up to support his fiancée. Perhaps we can expect her to be there cheering him on as he battles the rising American star.