Boulter battles through to French Open second round

Harriet Boulter navigated a tough opening-round match at the French Open, ultimately defeating rising star Urhobo in three sets. The British player secured the win after two hours and 10 minutes, breaking Urhobo's serve for the sixth time in the contest. Boulter's victory came despite a significant number of unforced errors, totaling 35 compared to Urhobo's 58.

The 29-year-old is aiming for a strong comeback after a challenging 2025 season that saw her ranking plummet from 24th in the world to outside the top 100, accompanied by injury issues. She also lost her British number one ranking during this period. Seeking a fresh start, Boulter appointed Michael Joyce, former coach to Maria Sharapova, in early 2026.

Despite a first-round exit at the Australian Open, Boulter has shown signs of resurgence, reaching the top 100 again with a WTA 250 title in Ostrava and a third-round appearance in Miami. However, her form remained inconsistent leading up to the Paris major, with only three WTA Tour-level singles wins from four clay tournaments.

In the match itself, both players struggled with errors, trading breaks in the opening set before Boulter eventually served it out. Urhobo gained an early advantage in the second set, but Boulter leveled and eventually forced a decider. Both players raised their level in the third set, with Boulter breaking early and eventually securing the win.