Katie broke for *2-1 second set and then just went totally off the boil. Some really dismal errors. Into a third we go.
6-4 3-6 *0-0
The ballooned forehand off a second serve at 30-30* in the last game of that set was criminal, and she made multiple poor errors at deuce before Frech took her fifth set point.
R2: BOULTER, Katie (GBR) Q 54 (CH=50 2023) v SABALENKA, Aryna ( ) (1) 1
They met at the Australian Open in 2019 with Aryna winning 3 & 4. They also met at Wimbledon in 2021 with Aryna winning 4-6 6-3 6-3.
Great third set to take the match, and her 5th top 100 win this year. Really taking advantage of draws when they pop up - the lucky draw comments i understand, but many in the 50-100 range dont consistently take them.
Katie looks every inch a top 60 player, very impressive season. Shes had some luck with draws but at the same time has beaten some tough opponents regardless of rankings.
Katie playing very well here but not making it count. Led 5-3 *30-15 and broken, then missed *8* break points at 5-5* (to be fair she had a play on maybe 3 of those, and only one was a poor forehand error).