Barely a week after beating Karolina Pliskova at Eastbourne to claim the biggest win of her career, Katie Boulter eclipsed her own achievement by defeating the Czech once again on Wimbledon’s Centre Court.
But while the result and the opponent were the same, the circumstances could not have been more different. Boulter’s 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win, which takes her through to the third round of a grand slam for the first time at the age of 25, came two days after the death of her maternal grandmother Jill Gartshore.
If Boulter’s first win over Pliskova, a finalist at Wimbledon last year, was grounded in tenacity and self-belief, the second was forged in grief for the loss of a beloved family member who helped her take her first steps in the game.
“It was a very, very tough match for me, for many aspects,” said Boulter, who recalled how her grandmother took her to play at her local club when she was four. “I’m super proud of myself for getting through today against a player like that, having already played her last week.
“I also had expectations going out there, and I managed to control my emotions very well and played a really good match. Ultimately it came down to the wire and I think I stayed really strong in the tough moments.”
In an emotional on-court interview, Boulter earlier dedicated the win to her grandmother, moving TV chef Dame Mary Berry and many other Centre Court onlookers to tears.
“I’ve got no words rights now, I’m literally shaking, the crowd was unbelievable, so thank you so much for getting me through that,” said Boulter. “I’m going to get emotional. My gran passed away two days ago, and I’d just like to dedicate that to her today.”
Boulter’s journey to this moment has been filled with adversity. A precociously talented junior who reached the final of the prestigious Orange Bowl event in 2011, she contracted chronic fatigue syndrome three years later and for a time was left virtually bedridden. Boulter eventually returned and, in 2019, broke into the top 100 for the first time – only to suffer a spinal stress fracture on Fed Cup duty that kept her out for nine months. The pandemic delayed her comeback further, and only now is she showing the form of which she is capable. It has been a long road.
“I have had to build momentum and some strength physically,” said Boulter, who is currently ranked 118th. “It’s a huge part of my game. I finally have been able to put that work in. It’s started to pay off. I’ve got a lot more work to do, and hopefully I can keep doing that.”
Boulter, who grew up in the village of Woodhouse Eaves in Leicester, comes from a close-knit family with a strong background in the game. Her grandmother was an accomplished regional player, while her mother Sue is a former county player and coach. Boulter said her grandfather Brian, who was present alongside her mother in the players’ box, had been careful to keep news of her grandmother’s passing from her until after her first-round win over Clara Burel.
“I actually had a phone call from my grandpa the night before I played,” she said. “He didn’t mention anything, but he kind of gave me the inkling that it might be coming. I didn’t know anything until after my first match, where my mum basically pulled me aside and told me.”
Boulter later watched her boyfriend, the 19th-seeded Australian Alex De Minaur, defeat Britain’s Jack Draper 5-7, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2, 6-3.
In another contest rich in emotion, former semi-finalist Kirsten Flipkens was defeated 7-5, 6-4 by Simona Halep in the final singles match of her career. Halep, the 16th seed and 2019 title-winner, embraced Flipkens warmly afterwards, before the tearful 36-year-old stooped to kiss the Court 2 grass. Flipkens, who reached a career-high ranking of 13th, led 5-2 in the opening set and 4-1 in the second.
“For everything there is an end in life, and I’m about to start now a new chapter,” said Flipkens. “It’s a special feeling. I would have dreamed for a goodbye like today. I was really close to even taking a set from a champion like Simona.
“It’s just a perfect way for me to end.”
Iga Swiatek extended her winning streak to 37 matches, although not before dropping a set for only the seventh time since her unbeaten run began in late February. Swiatek, the world No 1, defeated Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove of the Netherlands, a lucky loser ranked 138th, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
“Grass is pretty tricky for me, I’m not going to lie,” said the Polish world No 1, who will play Alizé Cornet in round three. “I guess you can see that I’m not playing maybe as efficiently as on other surfaces. Basically, my confidence is getting better overall. But this tournament is tricky and I’m still feeling out how to play the best game here.”
Petra Kvitova, the champion in 2011 and 2014, survived a late fightback by Ana Bogdan, who trailed by a set and 5-1 before reeling off five games in a row. Kvitova, who won in Eastbourne last week, came through 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) and will now face fourth seed Paula Badosa, who Irina Bara of Romania 6-3, 6-2.
“I think it was a great match until 5-1, 5-2,” said Kvitova. “Suddenly I felt so exhausted from the games I had. I don’t know, it was just tough to describe. I got a little bit tighter and she just went for it a little bit more. She didn’t miss. It was really tough to close it out.”