Katie Boulter loses out in Australian Open second round to Aryna Sabalenka

Learning: Katie Boulter is out of the Australian Open after a straight sets defeat to Ariya Sabalenka.
AFP/Getty Images
Joe Krishnan16 January 2019

Katie Boulter's Australian Open campaign has ended in defeat after bowing out in the second round to Aryna Sabalenka.

The 11th seed proved too strong for the 22-year-old, eventually prevailing in straight sets 6-3, 6-4 at the Melbourne Arena.

Boulter, who was competing in the second round of a Grand Slam for only the second time, got off to a fine start after securing a break.

But that only seemed to spur on Sabalenka, who quickly brushed off any threat of a comeback from the Leicester-born youngster.

The 20-year-old went from strength to strength, displaying her true power with some sumptuous groundstrokes, and highlighted why many are tipping her as a future star.

After a brief reprieve from Boulter in the final set, she succumbed with an unforced error to send Sabalenka through to the third round for the first time in Melbourne.

Boulter's run comes to an end after shocking Ekaterina Makarova in the first round on Monday.

That leaves Johanna Konta as the only Briton left in the tournament ahead of her second round clash against Garbine Muguruza on Thursday.

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