Tennis news, Australian Open - Katie Boulter wins three-set thriller against Ekaterina Makarova

Updated 14/01/2019 at 03:50 GMT

Katie Boulter made an instant impact at the Australian Open, beating Ekaterina Makarova in three sets in her first outing of the main draw at Melbourne Park.

Katie Boulter celebrates her win against Ekaterina Makarova

Image credit: Reuters

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The 22-year-old, fresh from her exploits in the Hopman Cup with Cameron Norrie, remained ice cool in the heat as she beat the former world No 8 6-0 4-6 7-6(6) in just under two-and-a-half hours.

Boulter, who has just crept into the top 100 players for the first time, had too much power for her Russian opponent at times and provided some good news for British fans after Harriet Dart and Heather Watson were easily defeated earlier in the morning.

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She remained calm after losing the second set and held her nerve when serving at 6-5 down in the third, with four fearsome serves to clinch the game to love.

She then took the breaker - which is now used to decide final sets in a first to ten format - 10-6.

Boulter will face No 11 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.