Katie Boulter crashes out of US Open after being THRASHED by Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova in worst Grand Slam defeat of her career

Francesca Jones’ punchy three-sets win against Magda Linette for her first-ever US Open victory was the only silver lining as storm clouds over New York sparked a British washout, with Katie Boulter, Jacob Fearnley, and Jan Choinski all knocked out.

Qualifier Jones had won the first set of her delayed match late on Tuesday evening 6-4, when only the Briton’s admonishment to the supervisor that it was ‘bloody raining’ called an end to play. Stepping back onto court 17 hours later after a second rain delay, the downpour seemed to have washed away her promising form as the Polish veteran swiped the second set 6-1 in just 25 minutes.

Jones was down, but not out, and after a reset, she claimed the early break in the third. Not that the match was without late drama - as Jones was serving for the win when she requested a video review protesting accusations that the ball had bounced twice for 30-30. With the review in her favour, Jones wasted no time claiming the hard-fought victory, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

British No1 Boulter enjoyed a battling first-round win that had her praising her control of the ball in Flushing Meadows, but saw all early confidence drain away as she was despatched 6-1, 6-0 by Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova.

The seventh seed in New York, Muchova represented the most challenging of opponents for the world No62 and delivered on the promise of her ranking to fatal effect in just under an hour.

As rain drenched the outdoor courts, Boulter’s meeting with Muchova was promoted to Louis Armstrong, and both women appeared to struggle in the early stages with the hypnotic buzz of the crowd on the bustling show court. 

‘It's a hard balance. You really want atmosphere, and you want to play in a buzz and an energy. But today, I really let it get to me more than usual,’ Boulter admitted. ‘I'm not normally that aware of everything going on. I think it made me feel a little bit uncomfortable, which I have to deal with better.

‘We both have the same situation. We both have the same noise. It's not like it's just for me. It's both of us, and I have to deal with it better. And I think that's the crux of it.’

Just as Boulter had been broken in the opening game, she pinched back the next game on Muchova’s racquet. But it was the last one she would win. The Briton was broken again, and although she tested Muchova looking for the break back one more time in the fourth game, it was in vain. Muchova held, and any hope of a competitive match slipped through Boulter’s fingers.

It was a very, very good day for the Czech and a very, very bad day for her opponent. Muchova’s game style is a delight to watch, and she might have been playing an exhibition match against Boulter, whose touch deserted her as the Czech star settled in. 

One particularly ropey attempt at a smash at the net in the first set summed up her afternoon – just as Boulter cantered up to bullet the ball past Muchova on the baseline, the ball sprang off her frame and out into the stands. The mishit set up Muchova’s break point for the first set, and she took it. Boulter’s only consolation on a difficult day will be that her loss comes against a strong contender for the title at this year’s tournament.

At least too, Boulter had not had to wait for her exit. Choinski had been scheduled for his first-round clash against Botic van de Zandschulp on Tuesday, only for a day of rolling scattered showers to have pushed the match back before its cancellation. As it was, he escaped a second rain delay by ten minutes as he was beaten 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(5) on a too-little, too-late afternoon.

German-born 6ft5’ Choinski credited his girlfriend Sophia, who acts as his coach for much of his time on the road, with attempting to keep him motivated throughout the match.

‘I had some break chances. I didn't use them. He broke my serve, and then from that point, it got tough,’ Choinski admitted after the match.

Fearnley also left his fightback too late as he fell to Tomas Martin Etcheverry 3-6, 3-6, 6-3, 3-6.