Boulter turns to Sharapova’s former coach Joyce

As Katie Boulter tries to regain her position in the world rankings, she has turned to a former Maria Sharapova coach.

Michael Joyce, 52, has joined Boulter in Auckland, where the former British number one will receive a wildcard for the ASB Classic’s upcoming week.

If neither of the two has a change of heart during New Zealand or the Australian Open this month, the two have agreed terms for the remainder of the year.

When Sharapova won the US Open and the Australian Open, Joyce joined her for six years as Sharapova’s team’s representative.

He was the best known for his coaching prowess, but he also had a career high of 64 as a player.

Following a three-year partnership that resulted in three WTA titles for her, Boulter and Biljana Veselinovic split late last year.

The 29-year-old is currently the world’s top 40 after falling out of the top 100.

Since winning her final competition at the highest level last year in Hong Kong, Boulter has only won three tournament matches.

So she simply missed out on a major tournament spot. Without enough withdrawals, she will need to qualify for Melbourne Park and become the third alternate.

Boulter made it clear in an interview with BBC Sport in November that there is still much she wishes to accomplish.

One thing I’m very clear about when working with a new coach is that they will be someone with a lot of experience in how to compete at the very top of this game, she said.

“I’ve been given a 23 and I know I can get back there.” My level is not at its lowest point, but I believe consistency needs to increase.

” My goal is not to be ranked 50, 40, 30, 20 – we’ve been there. The objective is to be “inside 20.”

Boulter praised 2026 as “the best year of her life,” saying that she will marry Australia’s seventh-ranked Alex de Minaur.

And she made it clear that she won’t be mourning the recent anniversity.