Merida Open: Katie Poulter defeats Camila Osorio in the second round in Mexico

After a difficult 2025, Poulter was desperate to close the door on what she saw as a terrible year.

The plan was to start over in 2026, and the appointment of a new coach in Michael Joyce, who helped Maria Sharapova win Grand Slam titles, was part of the process.

Powerful baseliner Poulter has made a productive start with a string of wins against players ranked outside the top 60, but there are still flaws in her serve that need to be resolved.

A low first serve ratio against Osorio meant she had to save four break points to maintain her lead, although she was able to capitalize on the Colombian’s woes by hitting her second serve.

The slow conditions in Mérida don’t really help Poulter’s game – especially since she came from the faster indoor courts in Ostrava.

Adapting is something Poulter finds difficult, so she was encouraged by the smoother rematch against Osorio.

But she knows further improvement is needed to continue her recent run, especially if Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist whose striking and athleticism have proven difficult for Poulter to handle in the past, is her quarter-final opponent.