Tennis ace Katie Boulter is top of the UK’s girls ranking having celebrated landing her first professional title last week.
Boulter teamed up with Belgian Justine De Sutter to win the $10,000 Sharm El Sheikh doubles tournament.
It means the 17-year-old from Loughborough is the only girl to win both a junior and senior title this season.
The pair didn’t drop a set on their way to the title beating Russian Natela Dzalamidze and Ukrainian Yuliya Hnateyko, 6-4, 7-6, in the final.
“I was extremely happy,” Katie told the Echo from Egypt. “It’s even more special then the others as being my first pro title. It’s the first of many...I hope!”
Boulter also performed well in the singles.
She beat compatriot Jessica Simpson 7-5, 6-4 in the first round before being drawn against German sixth seed Jasmin Steinherr. Boulter lost the first set in a tie break but came back to beat the player ranked 137 places higher than her 6-3, 6-2 in the remainders.
She lost out to number two seed, and eventual winner, Giula Bruzzone in the quarter final 6-2, 6-1.
“I’ve been a little disappointed that I’d matched players ranked higher than me but not got over the line, but perseverance pays off eventually,” Boulter continued. “The funny thing is I have drawn her this week first round again.
“I didn’t play badly in the singles but I also know there’s a lot more to my game than what I put out last week which is extremely exciting for me.”
Courtesy of the Loughborough Echo