Katie Boulter Calls for Rule Change After Stressful Pre‑Open Wait

British tennis star Katie Boulter has urged the WTA to adopt an end‑of‑season ranking cut‑off for entry lists at the Australian Open, the 2026 event in Melbourne that opens on 15 Feb. The rule, used by the ATP to decide which players qualify for the main draw, would give players a clear schedule for the year and avoid last‑minute anxieties. Boulter, who has been waiting for a decision about her spot weeks before the tournament starts, said the current system forces players into a stressful waiting period. She argues that a cut‑off would benefit all competitors and bring parity with the men’s circuit. The WTA must weigh player welfare against ranking continuity as 2026 rolls in.