🔗 Share this article Physical Health or World Standing - Boulter's Australian Open Predicament Katie Boulter has dropped from 23rd place to 100th position in the world rankings in the current season Britain's Katie Boulter states she believes she has to "pick between my physical condition and my world standing" as the scramble carries on for a position in January's Australian Open primary competition. While the standard WTA Tour competitive period is completed, there are still standing points to be won in South American nations, neighboring countries, various venues and international tournaments. The female competitor lineup for the initial Grand Slam of the upcoming season will be based on the international positions of 8 December, which could create a difficult choice for athletes near the cut. Health Challenges Previous British leading competitor Boulter experienced an abductor in her concluding competition of the year in Asian venues last month, and is now considering whether to compete in the WTA 125 Challenger event in Angers, the European nation, in the opening days of December. Boulter's ongoing health concern, and the situation she would need to achieve at least three matches in the French tournament to boost her standing, means she may likely end up not competing. Varying Approaches In opposition, male athletes are not facing the same situation, as for the first time the male Australian Open entry list will be drawn up from this week's positions, which is the ATP's standard annual-final standing calculation. The change is aimed at deterring athletes from pursuing standing points during what is fundamentally the rest interval. Professional Adjustments This season has been a difficult one for Boulter. She secured just 14 Tour-level main-draw matches and recently separated with instructor Biljana Veselinovic after a extended collaboration in which she won multiple WTA titles. "Biljana is an outstanding instructor, and an extremely quality person as well, which makes things extremely hard," Boulter said. The quest for a replacement trainer is currently ongoing, seeking someone who has elite experience as Boulter continues to think she can be a elite-level player. Future Goals "Going forward with a replacement instructor, a key aspect I'm absolutely certain on is that they are going to be someone who has considerable knowledge in how to succeed to the highest echelon of this sport," she said. "I've been positioned as elevated as 23 and I know I can climb back there. I don't believe my standard has diminished, I think the reliability should develop. "My objective is not simply to be positioned 50, forty, 30, 20 - we've been there. The objective is to be within 20."