Katie Boulter weathers serve woes to beat Beatriz Haddad Maia and extend streak in Merida
Katie Boulter moved into the second round of the Merida Open by defeating Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4, 6-4, a result that matters because it extended Boulter’s winning run while exposing persistent serving problems that will demand attention ahead of tougher draws.
Katie Boulter's serving struggles in Merida Open
The British No 3, aged 29, advanced despite managing just 36% of first serves and committing nine double faults in the match. Her struggles on serve translated into five times being broken and 38 unforced errors across a contest that lasted almost two hours. Those figures did not prevent her from converting key moments and closing out a straight-sets victory.
Match statistics against Beatriz Haddad Maia
Boulter beat Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-4, 6-4 in the opening round. The 29-year-old broke twice in the second set to race into a 3-0 lead and ultimately sealed the match after taking a second match point, having missed the first when committing her ninth double fault. Haddad Maia’s recent form remained poor, with this loss marking her sixth defeat in seven matches in 2026.
Key moments: breaks, holds and the opening set swing
The match began unusually, with the first four games going against serve before Haddad Maia finally held. Boulter’s holds in the sixth and 10th games decided the opening set. In the second set Boulter broke twice more to build the early advantage that proved decisive, while recurring service lapses kept the contest tight and required the winner to fight through multiple tense exchanges.
Context on form: Ostrava Open title and sixth straight win
Boulter entered Merida off a title at the Ostrava Open and notched what is described as her sixth straight victory with the Haddad Maia result. She acknowledged the need to adapt to new conditions, saying she tried to keep believing in her preparation, that the Mexican conditions were very different from recent events and that she had to adjust and keep fighting. She also reflected on the matchup, noting she has had many battles with "Bea, " calling her an incredible competitor who never gives anything, and expressed relief at getting through a long match.
Broader tour notes: Acapulco result and other headlines on the calendar
The same day produced notable outcomes elsewhere on the tour. Cameron Norrie exited early in Acapulco, his campaign lasting just 56 minutes. Rafael Jodar defeated Norrie 6-3, 6-2, a result described as the biggest win of Jodar’s career. Separate headlines in the wider calendar referenced the United Cup, where Emma Raducanu wished Jack Draper a speedy recovery from injury, and previews of the Australian Open that highlighted Aryna Sabalenka facing Madison Keys, plus a semifinal focus on Jannik Sinner against Ben Shelton and questions about Novak Djokovic’s leg. Commentary also revisited Andy Murray’s Wimbledon legacy following his 2024 withdrawal.
What makes this notable is that Boulter’s victory both lengthens a positive streak—she left Merida with a sixth successive win and a recent title to her name—and simultaneously underlines service volatility that produced 36% first serves, nine double faults and five breaks conceded. The timing matters because she will need to stabilise those elements ahead of deeper tournament rounds and the stacked calendar the tour presents.
For now, Boulter advances in Merida; the precise next opponent is unclear in the provided context, and the focus will be on whether she can convert the momentum of a sixth straight win into cleaner serving and fewer unforced errors as the event progresses.
