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Britain's Katie Boulter admits she feels she has to "choose between my body and my ranking" as the competition continues for a position in January's Australian Open main event.

While the standard WTA Tour tournament schedule is over, there are still standing points to be gained in Latin American countries, neighboring countries, multiple sites and France.

The female competitor lineup for the initial Grand Slam of the 2026 season will be calculated from the international positions of the December cutoff, which could create a dilemma for competitors near the cut.

Physical Setbacks

Ex- British top-ranked player Boulter tore an abductor in her last tournament of the year in Asian venues last timeframe, and is now evaluating whether to compete in the WTA 125 development competition in French locations, the continental destination, in the initial week of December.

Boulter's current physical issue, and the reality she would need to win at least three matches in the French tournament to boost her ranking, means she may well eventually not playing.

Different Systems

In contrast, men's competitors are not experiencing the identical dilemma, as for the initial instance the men's Australian Open competitor lineup will be drawn up from this week's standings, which is the ATP's standard season-concluding standing calculation.

The change is designed to deterring competitors from chasing ranking points during what is essentially the break period.

Professional Adjustments

This period has been a difficult one for Boulter.

She secured just fourteen professional major tournament contests and lately separated with coach Biljana Veselinovic after a three-year collaboration in which she secured three WTA victories.

"Biljana is an exceptional trainer, and an exceptionally quality person as well, which creates situations very difficult," Boulter said.

The pursuit for a new trainer is actively progressing, seeking someone who has high-level experience as Boulter maintains the belief she can be a top-20 competitor.

Future Goals

"Progressing with a different trainer, an important factor I'm very clear on is that they are going to be an individual who has extensive experience in how to make it to the peak performance of this game," she stated.

"I've been placed as high as 23 and I know I can return to that position. I am not convinced my standard has disappeared, I believe the reliability should enhance.

"My goal is not simply to be positioned fifty, 40, thirty, twenty - we've achieved that. The objective is to be within the elite group."