EXCLUSIVE: Jelena Dokic's advice to adopted Aussie Katie Boulter after nightmare 90-spot rankings tumble

Katie Boulter was steaming towards a top-20 ranking and potential grand slam success when she reached a career-high No.23 at the end of 2024.

Twelve months later she was ranked 113th in the world and was unsure if she would even make it into the Australian Open draw.

Her ranking alone didn't guarantee her ticket into the year's first slam, and she was preparing to go through qualifying in a last-ditch attempt to join her fiancée Alex de Minaur in the main draws at Melbourne Park.

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But after a handful of players withdrew from the women's bracket, Boulter was a confirmed starter.

She later labelled the process "stressful" and called on the WTA to change the qualifying rules to avoid others going through a similar circus.

The 29-year-old Brit is as good as an adopted Aussie given she's engaged to marry the best men's player from Down Under later this year.

She is sure to draw a crowd to her round one clash against women's No.10 seed Belinda Bencic on Tuesday, set to be played on Margaret Court Arena.

Boulter was flying a year ago, before a string of injuries derailed her charge up the rankings.

She ended up ditching Biljana Veselinovic as her coach, and hired the services of Michael Joyce in an effort to get her game back on track.

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"I always really liked him," Boulter told media last week of Joyce.

"I thought he's done a really good job with a lot of other players … He's someone that I didn't really get to know that much until I spent time with him on court, and I really like his style.

"I feel like it's going well at the moment. I think we're all quite calm, which really helps because I've got that energy around me, which is important for me as a tennis player."

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Joyce has previously worked with retired champion Maria Sharapova, as well as Johanna Konta, Jessica Pegula, Victoria Azarenka, Eugenie Bouchard, and Ashlyn Krueger.

It has Boulter primed for another run up the rankings in 2026, according to Aussie tennis legend Jelena Dokic.

"Katie's had a tough year. She got into the top 30, she was seeded at grand slams as well," Dokic told Wide World of Sports' The Morning Serve.

"Last year was tough because I think she did feel that pressure and expectation to get into the top 20, maybe even push for the top 10 as well.

"I feel like she lost a bit of confidence as well through some losses early in the year. A coaching change as well this year.

"I think this year will be about rebuilding.

"She definitely has the game, but as well all know confidence is a massive thing in sport and in tennis.

"What I would do outside the grand slams is play smaller tournaments and try get as many matches as you can, that's how you build confidence.

"She's a great athlete, has a big game, big forehand and serve as well, so if that gets going she is always dangerous."

Bencic is a difficult first round draw.

The Swiss star is in red hot form, having defeated world No.2 Iga Swiatek during the United Cup.

She is yet to lose a singles match this year.

But Boulter will be hoping to join de Minaur in the second round, having watched her fiancé easily dispatch of Mackenzie McDonald on Monday.

The Demon is almost certain to be in the Margaret Court Arena grandstand cheering Boulter on.