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World No.2 Rybakina had come from behind to force a deciding set but could not get over the line as Boulter earned a 7-5 2-6 6-4 victory in two hours and 39 minutes.

The pair was making its second appearance of the day, with torrid weather cancelling pretty much all of the day's play.

Boulter had made light work of Jacqueline Cristian, winning 6-1 6-3, but Rybakina was on her second three-setter of the day after a 6-7 (4-7) 7-5 6-0 victory over Tatjana Maria.

Boulter was put under early pressure in her first three service games, with Rybakina forcing nine break points during that time, but she was fended off at every turn.

The Brit soon turned that defence into the perfect attack, getting the vital break in the 11th game before converting her third set point.

Rybakina held off two break points early on in the second set and swayed momentum in her favour as two breaks forced a decider, but the world No.2 could not maintain her rhythm.

Boulter again had to hold off break point attempts, biding her time for an opening, which she got as she rounded off the match with a three-game winning streak.

Boulter's fellow Briton Emma Raducanu was also in action, with her delayed Round of 16 tie against Sorana Cirstea taking place in the morning.

Raducanu earned her best result of 2026 so far as she won 6-4 6-2 in just fewer than 90 minutes, but her quarter-final tie against Kamilla Rakhimova was pushed back and eventually postponed.