Katie Boulter Loses Japan Open Semi-Final 6-1 6-4 to Siniakova — But Reclaims British No. 1 Spot

Katie Boulter's run at the Japan Open ended in the semi-finals on Saturday, October 24, as Katerina Siniakova beat the Briton 6-1 6-4 in Osaka — but the week still ended with a prize for Boulter, who has reclaimed her place as British No. 1 from Sonay Kartal. It was Boulter's third WTA semi-final of the 2026 season, and her run in Osaka will lift her back into the world's top 50 when the rankings are next updated.
Siniakova, the world No. 86 in singles and the world's top-ranked doubles player, flew out of the blocks and won the first five games, with Boulter having to save a set point just to win her first game. The 30-year-old Briton stirred hopes of a fightback when she broke Siniakova early in the second set, but her opponent soon seized back control and served out a straightforward victory in 85 minutes, keeping alive her bid for a first singles title in three years.
Siniakova, a 12-time Grand Slam doubles champion, will now play American Ashlyn Krueger in Sunday's final — her 11th singles final. The 22-year-old Krueger, the 2023 champion, beat fellow American and top seed Ann Li 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 in Saturday's other semi-final. Boulter, who reached the last four with a comeback win over Antonia Ruzic in the quarter-finals, will head home as Britain's leading woman once again after Kartal briefly took the spot with her run to last week's Wuhan Open final.
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