Katie Boulter stayed on course for a third consecutive Nottingham Open title by defeating Sonay Kartal in an all-British showdown on Thursday.

British No 2 Boulter battled back from a break down in the third set to win a rollercoaster match 6-4 1-6 7-5 in two hours and 26 minutes.

Boulter, who was replaced this week as British number one by Emma Raducanu, won her maiden WTA Tour title in Nottingham two years ago and backed it up last summer.

She trailed 4-2 in the deciding set and had to save a break point to avoid going a double break behind, with the eighth seed struggling in the heat and consulting the doctor.

“I have so much respect for Sonay, she is such a tough competitor and I also know she’s never going to give me anything at any point,” said Boulter.

“I know she’s going to surpass me at some point, she’s got the game for it, she’s got the head for it. I’m going to have to face that fact.

“But at the very end I just wanted to grit my teeth as hard as I possibly could and get myself over the line. I’m really pleased with myself today. It wasn’t easy, for sure.

“I feel like I step into my house when I come onto this court. I have such great vibes here but the heat was killing me today.

“I am definitely proper British because I can’t handle the heat at all. I’m just glad I got over the line.”

Next up for Boulter is a quarter-final clash against American McCartney Kessler, who raced past Lin Zhu with a 6-1 6-4 victory.

Meanwhile, British teenager Mimi Xu exited in the second round 7-5 6-1 despite a spirited performance against world No 31 Magda Linette.

The 17-year-old, who will make her Wimbledon debut later this month after being given a wild card, won her first WTA Tour match in the first round before sitting an A level biology exam on Wednesday.

Fearnley dishes out French lesson to Moutet

British No 2 Jacob Fearnley reached a first career ATP Tour-level quarter-final at Queen’s, defeating volatile qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3 2-6 6-2 at the HSBC Championships.

In doing so, Fearnley extended his remarkable, perfect record against French players to 17-0 since turning professional.

He said: “I’m very happy to be in my first quarter-final, it’s even better to do it here in the UK. It’s really special for me, I’ve dreamed of these moments since I was a young boy.

“I tried to stick to my game plan and be aggressive. I did that better in the third set and the result speaks for itself.”

Fearnley wrapped up a controlled first set with a double-ace finish, while madcap Moutet got a ticking-off from umpire Adel Nour for chucking his racket.

However, the momentum shifted quickly when three double-faults from the home player gave Moutet an early break in the second.

But Fearnley reset well in the decider, breaking Moutet with a backhand winner down the line, prompting the fiery 26-year-old to whack a ball high over the stands and earn a long-overdue warning from the chair.

A diving backhand volley secured a double break and Fearnley kept his head as Moutet lost his – bickering with the umpire and the crowd – to wrap up victory in just over two hours.

Fearnley will play a fellow 23-year-old, Czech world No 30 Jiri Lehecka, in the last eight.

Carlos Alcaraz came through a marathon encounter as he beat fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 7-5 to reach the quarter-finals.

The French Open champion needed three hours and 26 minutes to overcome his compatriot in the searing afternoon heat in west London.

“There were moments I struggled a lot mentally and physically,” Alcaraz said. “I just kept fighting. I guess I didn’t give up.

“I was out mentally, but I stayed there and tried to play the points and play my best points from the first set.”

At the Halle grass-court tournament, top-ranked Jannik Sinner was upended by Alexander Bublik 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the second round on Thursday.

Sinner, the Halle defending champion, was playing in his first tournament since losing the five-set thriller to Alcaraz in the Roland-Garros final.

Jack Draper returns to action at Queen’s Club on Friday when the second seed takes on American Brandon Nakashima knowing victory would hand him a top four seeding at Wimbledon and a semi-final spot at the ATP 500 event in west London.

Gauff loses first match after French Open triumph

French Open champion Coco Gauff was brought back down to earth with an opening defeat against China’s Wang Xinyu at the Berlin Tennis Open.

Gauff, who was given a bye in the first round, was playing her first match since winning a second Grand Slam title at Roland Garros nearly two weeks ago.

But she produced an error-strewn display, including seven double faults, in the German capital as Wang secured a 6-3 6-3 victory for the biggest win of her career.

Aryna Sabalenka, who was beaten by Gauff in the final in Paris, prevailed in her delayed match against Rebeka Masarova, winning 6-2 7-6 (6).

The top seed will face former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina in the quarter-finals after she defeated Katerina Siniakova 6-4 7-6 (7-5).

Another winner at SW19, 2023 champion Marketa Vondrousova, is also showing some form again on the grass and she defeated Diana Shnaider 6-3 6-7 (7-3) 6-3.

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