Australian Open 2019: Katie Boulter comes unstuck against championship-candidate Aryna Sabalenka

It would be no surprise to see 20-year-old Sabalenka claim the title here in Melbourne after defeating Boulter 6-3, 6-4 to reach the third round

Katie Boulter’s first Australian Open campaign is over, but the 22-year-old Briton can take heart both from her performances here and from the fact that her conqueror is on a fast track towards the top of the game.

Aryna Sabalenka, a 20-year-old from Belarus, is seen by many as a dark horse to win the title next week. The world No 11, who was ranked No 66 when she lost in the first round here last year, was made to work hard for her victory before beating Boulter 6-3, 6-4 in an hour and 13 minutes.

Sabalenka has a reputation as one of the game’s biggest ball strikers but there were periods in the match when Boulter matched her shot for shot, even though the Briton said afterwards that the match had left her “a little bit disappointed”.

Boulter added:“I didn’t feel like I put my best game on the court. She played very well. It’s very tough to read her serve. She served great out there.”

“I thought I stuck with her pretty well and it’s encouraging for me to play someone like that and not play my best tennis but still be in there with a chance to win a set or two.”

Until this week Boulter’s only Grand Slam appearances had been at Wimbledon, where she was handed a wild card in both 2017 and 2018.

However, good progress through the world rankings saw her break into the top 100 last year, which earned her a place in the main draw here. Boulter took full advantage by beating the highly experienced Ekaterina Makarova in the first round.

Boulter took on Sabalenka in the Melbourne Arena, which is the third of the main show courts here and staged Andy Murray’s first-round match on Monday. From the start Boulter showed no signs of nerves as she broke in the opening game after coming back from 40-15 down.

Sabalenka broke back immediately, however, as the match developed into a big-hitting battle from the baseline. If the Belarusian was the more consistent ball-striker, Boulter regularly gave as good as she got.

Another break of serve in the sixth game put Sabalenka on course to win the opening set and she broke again in the third game of the second set. Boulter, nevertheless, held on and forced her opponent to serve out for victory. Sabalenka now faces Amanda Anisimova, who beat the No 24 seed, Lesia Tsurenko, 6-0, 6-2.

“This week has been massive,” Boulter said. “The past couple of weeks as well. My whole trip to Australia has been a learning experience. It has been really great for me. I have been surrounded by people I am not normally around.

Boulter bows out of the tournament (EPA)

“I have learned so much from just playing matches on big courts, which I haven’t done before. I feel a lot more settled out there. And I will definitely use it for the rest of my year.”

Boulter’s defeat leaves Johanna Konta as the only Briton left in singles competition. She meets Garbine Muguruza, the former Wimbledon champion, in the second round on Thursday.