Boulter beaten by Shnaider in Wuhan

British number one Katie Boulter is out of the Wuhan Open after her first-round defeat to Russian Diana Shnaider.

After a competitive first set, Boulter lost serve four times in the second as world number 13 Shnaider won convincingly 6-3 6-1 in an hour and 30 minutes.

This has been a largely disappointing season for Boulter, who is ranked 54th in the world and has only two wins in four Grand Slam tournaments.

Since losing in the first round at Wimbledon in June, Boulter has won just three of nine singles matches she has played on the WTA Tour.

This has come at a difficult time for Boulter, whose grandfather, Brian, died last week.

He was described by Boulter’s brother James as “Katie’s biggest supporter” and Boulter said in a social media tribute before competing in Wuhan that he had had “a tough week”.