Katie Boulter was forced to retire from her first-round match in Hong Kong after losing the first set to Alexandra Eala. The British star called the physio while trailing 1-2 on serve in the second set and soon burst into tears, deciding that she could not continue.
Boulter finished runner-up in Hong Kong last year, losing to Diana Shnaider. After ending her campaign in round one, the Brit’s ranking is set to take a hit, as she was defending 163 points.
The current world No. 78 had a tough draw, facing Eala in her opening match. Eala has enjoyed a breakout season, storming into the Miami Open semi-finals as a teenage wildcard earlier this year. She stunned Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek en route.
Eala also won a WTA 125 title in Guadalajara last month, and she came into the Hong Kong Open at a career-high ranking of No. 51. Boulter, meanwhile, has been struggling for form of late.
The British No. 4 has won just three tour-level matches since Wimbledon.
