Katie Boulter has enlisted the services of Michael Joyce, the former coach of Maria Sharapova, as she seeks to regain momentum in the 2026 season. The partnership, which began towards the conclude of 2025, aims to address inconsistencies in Boulter’s game and propel her back into the world’s top 20.
The 29-year-old Boulter, currently ranked outside the top 100, endured a challenging 2025 campaign, culminating in an abductor tear in Hong Kong that prematurely ended her season. Prior to the injury, she had been coached by Biljana Veselinovic for three years, a period during which she secured three WTA titles. Joyce, 52, brings a wealth of experience, having guided Sharapova to multiple Grand Slam victories, including the Australian and US Open, and to the world No. 1 ranking.
Boulter debuted the partnership at the WTA 250 Auckland tournament, earning a main draw wildcard. While she has demonstrated promising form with victories against opponents ranked outside the top 60, areas for improvement remain, particularly with her first-serve percentage. A recent match against Osorio highlighted this, requiring Boulter to fend off four break points despite capitalizing on her opponent’s weaker second serve.
The transition to the slower court conditions in Merida presents a further challenge for Boulter, whose game thrives on quicker surfaces, as evidenced by her recent performance in Ostrava. She has historically found adjusting to varying conditions difficult, but displayed encouraging signs of adaptation with a more fluent returning game against Osorio.
Looking ahead, Boulter faces a potential quarter-final clash against Jasmine Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist. Paolini’s athleticism and shot-making have historically posed difficulties for Boulter, necessitating further refinement of her game. Boulter has stated her ambition is not merely to reach the top 50, but to consistently compete within the top 20, believing her peak level remains untapped. The agreement with Joyce is for the 2026 season, with a provision for either party to reassess the partnership after the Australian summer.
Joyce’s coaching resume also includes work with Johanna Konta, a former British No. 1, and Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Grand Slam champion, as well as more recently, Ashlyn Krueger, who achieved a top 30 debut last year. He travelled with Boulter to Auckland to begin their work together, with the Australian Open qualifying tournament also on the horizon.
