British No.1 tennis star Katie Boulter has called out ‘keyboard warriors’ after her early exit at the 2025 Australian Open to Veronika Kudermetova.
Boulter, the world No.25, was the favourite to progress against Russian world No.75 Kudermetova but lost in the second round on Thursday.
The 28-year-old was seeded 22nd in the Australian Open women’s singles, in what was her career-highest seed at a Grand Slam tournament to date.
Boulter, though, who enjoyed a stellar 2024 season, was unable to to reach the third round at Melbourne Park for the first time in her career, after Kudermetova conjured up a shock 7-6 2-6 6-2 victory on Court 3.
‘Obviously losing a match like that hurts, but I’m someone that’s going to keep showing up,’ Boulter said after her elimination. ‘I’m going to have my moment, I’m sure of it.’
Trolls have targeted Boulter on social media after her loss to Kudermetova and the Briton, who served below par and hit too many unforced errors during her defeat, has now decided to address her critics on Instagram.
Posting a photo of herself looking annoyed during a match, Boulter wrote: ‘My face when keyboard warriors become experts in how to be a pro tennis player [laugh emoji x2].’
Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur, who is engaged to Boulter and faces Alex Michelsen in the fourth round of the men’s singles on Monday, threw his support behind his future wife in the comments section.
‘Hit the ball in the court…. Not that hard [laugh emoji],’ De Minaur posted as a comment.
British tennis star Jodie Burrage, who also reached the second round at Melbourne Park, left a comment on Boulter’s post too.
‘Would LOVE to see them try do it [eyes emoji],’ Burrage said. ‘You’re amazing girlie [heart emoji].’
Six British players made the second round at this year’s Australian Open across the men’s singles and women’s singles for the first time in history.
There are no Brits left standing, though, with Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu and Jacob Fearnley all eliminated in the third round, while the other three lost in round two.