Katie Boulter advances at Merida Open after Camila Osorio retires in second round
Katie Boulter extended her winning streak to seven matches on the WTA Tour when Camila Osorio retired during their second-round match at the Merida Open after losing the opening set 6-3. The victory keeps Boulter on course for a quarter-final meeting with either top seed Jasmine Paolini or Australia’s Priscilla Hon.
Camila Osorio retirement ends match after first set
Boulter had taken the first set 6-3 in Mexico when Osorio called for the physio and then decided not to continue, handing Boulter progression to the last eight. The retirement followed treatment on court and removed the need for a decisive set; as a result, Boulter moves on without having to finish the match.
Katie Boulter’s form and recent titles
The 29-year-old British No 3, who is listed at world number 69, arrived in Merida on the back of winning the Ostrava Open this month and now has seven consecutive Tour wins. She has four WTA Tour singles titles to her name and began this event by overcoming serve problems to edge past Beatriz Haddad Maia in the opening round.
Service issues and on-court adjustments in Merida
Boulter’s low first-serve percentage against Osorio forced her to save four break points to preserve the lead, though she repeatedly attacked the Colombian’s second serve to seize control. The slower court conditions in Merida, following the quicker indoor surfaces in Ostrava, have presented an adjustment challenge; Boulter says adapting to different speeds is difficult, but she found encouragement in a more fluent returning game in this match.
Michael Joyce appointment as part of 2026 reset
After what Boulter described as an annus horribilis in 2025, she planned a fresh start in 2026 and added Michael Joyce to her team. Joyce, who helped Maria Sharapova win Grand Slam titles, is part of a wider effort to tighten a game that has shown power from the baseline but still carries service flaws that need ironing out.
Quarter-final path: Jasmine Paolini or Priscilla Hon
With the win sealed by Osorio’s retirement, Boulter will face either Italian top seed Jasmine Paolini or Australian Priscilla Hon in the quarter-finals on Friday. Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, has shot-making and athleticism that have troubled Boulter previously; that matchup would demand further improvement from Boulter if she is to extend her run.
On court after the match, Boulter said: "We really don't want to see women with injuries. It's been pretty tough recently. I've seen a lot of people with them and I've been through them myself, so I know how difficult it is. " She added that she wished Osorio the best, expressing hope to see her at Indian Wells next week and hoping the issue was minor. Boulter also said she appreciated the support of the crowd and was simply happy to be playing more matches.
Indian Wells, the third WTA 1000 tournament of the year, begins on 4 March in California, where Boulter may aim to continue the momentum built in Merida. What makes this notable is how quickly the season’s early swing has forced tactical adjustments: a player who thrives as a powerful baseliner must reconcile service inconsistencies and surface transitions to sustain a deep run against higher-ranked opponents.
