'What happened, happened,' Katie Boulter inspired by Rafael Nadal’s popular quote before kickstarting her Italian Open campaign

On her Instagram account, Boulter posted some pictures of her in the Italian capital and a clip of Nadal’s 2019 press conference at the Rome Open. Not just her, even World No. 1 Iga Swiatek shared a similar post on Instagram before her first-round match against Bernarda Pera in Rome.

Check their posts here:

In 2019, Nadal lost three consecutive semifinals (at the Indian Wells Masters to Roger Federer, the Monte-Carlo Masters to Fabio Fognini, and to Dominic Thiem at the Barcelona Open). Following these exits, the 22-time Grand Slam champion wanted to give all his attention to the Rome Open. 

What happened in Monte-Carlo happened, and what happened in Barcelona happened, and what happened in Madrid happened. And here we are. We are in Rome.  Rafael Nadal said back then 

Interestingly, Nadal defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semifinal and went on to beat Novak Djokovic in the final. He continued with his winning ways by lifting the Roland Garros next. In the 2024 Rome Open, an unseeded Nadal faced Zizou Bergs in the Round of 128 and beat him following disappointing campaigns at the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open. 

Katie Boulter searching for her second title of the season

Katie Boulter started her campaign this year at the Australian Open. After the Linz Open, she played at the San Diego Open, winning the tournament by beating Marta Kostyuk in the final. That was the only title she was able to lift this year. 

Then after another bad campaign at the Indian Wells Masters, the 27-year-old played at the Miami Open and Madrid Open. She will face World No. 120 Rebecca Sramkova for the first time in her career in her first match of the Italian Open. 

Sramkova has not yet won a title in her career and has a 358/233 win-loss record. Boulter, on the other hand, has two titles on the WTA Tour and seven singles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit.