French Open 2019: Katie Boulter Withdraws After Surprise Entry, Earns £20,300

Katie Boulter withdraws from the French Open 2019 after a surprise entry into the tournament. Boulter pulled out of the site, only two days before the start of French Open 2019 and collected half of the prize money she would have earned for a first-round defeat, equalling £20,300. She was highly criticized for coming to the site just for collecting the pay cheque.

The British no. 3 has not hit the court since Great Britain’s Fed-cup play-off victory over Kazakhstan, one month ago. Katie Boulter has been withdrawing from a series of clay events before making a surprise entry into the main draw of French Open 2019.

The 22-year-old is suffering from a stress fracture in her back. Sources suggested that it was clear long ago that she would not be able to participate at the French Open 2019. However, Boulter did not withdraw from the event earlier.

Boulter posted a video of herself at the National Tennis Centre in London on Social Media on Thursday. She traveled to Paris for the French Open 2019 on Friday morning and pulled out of the tournament.

Katie Boulter announced her withdrawal on Twitter. She tweeted, “So disappointed to have to pull out of the French Open. I was still hoping to have a chance of competing but doctors have advised me not to take a risk with my back. Can’t wait to get back on the court soon.”

Stuart Fraser, a Tennis Correspondent at times sport tweeted, “Katie Boulter traveled from London to Paris this morning and collected about £20,000 of prize money despite it being clear weeks ago that she was not going to play here. She refused to answer questions this afternoon on her controversial withdrawal.”

Nick Kyrgios landed with another controversial comment. The Australian reacted to the news saying, “Why is this a story, she earned her way in the draw right? Shaking my head.”

The rule of paying the prize money to the players withdrawing from the event was imposed at the grand slams, last year. The rule was introduced to prevent players from hitting the court with no realistic chance of finishing the first-round match just to collect the prize-money. The player withdrawing from the event will take half of the first round defeat prize money. While the other half goes to lucky loser taking their place.

The players stay in the draw until the last moment, even though they don’t have any intention to play to earn the prize money. However, Boulter insisted that was not the case for her.

Katie Boulter was heavily criticized on Twitter.