Katie Boulter reaches first WTA 500 quarter-final after comeback win over Beatriz Haddad Maia in San Diego

British No. 1 Katie Boulter reached the first WTA 500 quarter-final of her career with a comeback win over second seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in San Diego.

Boulter won 3-6 6-3 6-4 against the world No. 13 to record her second top-20 win of the season.

She will next face Donna Vekic or qualifier Marina Stakusic as she bids to make the last four.

Boulter dropped the first set against Haddad Maia after being broken to love in the eighth game.

She then fended off two break points in the opening game of the second set before a 12-point run saw her take control.

At 2-2, Boulter fired down successive love holds either side of breaking serve to love to open up a healthy lead.

She clinched the set in 48 minutes and continued to impress in the decider as she broke to lead 2-1 after some superb defensive work at the back of the court.

Boulter won the next three games in a row to close on victory at 5-1 ahead.

Haddad Maia recovered a break in the eighth game and then got to 5-4, but Boulter served out to love to secure her place in the next round.

Top seed Jessica Pegula made a winning return as she beat German qualifier Jule Niemeier 6-0 6-4.

Pegula lost just nine points in the first set and was 5-1 up in the second before closing out after Niemeier won three games in a row.

“I haven’t played a tournament since Australian Open, so I knew I was going to be a little nervous and things were going to be weird,” Pegula said.

“But then I came out playing really well. I don’t think she was playing her best but I came out really strong.

“I know she’s the type of player who can make some really good shots, she has a lot of power and she’s super crafty. I knew if I gave her a chance she was going to try and make a run there at the end, which she did.

“I’m lucky that I’m standing here talking to you guys and not battling it out at the end of the second set.”

Pegula will face either Anna Blinkova or Dayana Yastremska next.

Qualifier Daria Saville saved a match point to beat Tatjana Maria 5-7 7-6(2) 6-2 and advance to her first WTA 500 quarter-final since 2022.

Maria had a chance to seal the win at 5-4 ahead in the second set but couldn’t take it.

The tie-breaker then went Saville’s way and the Australian pulled away in the final set to win and set up a meeting with either third seed Emma Navarro or Katerina Siniakova.