She was dubbed ‘Britain’s new rising tennis star’ at Wimbledon last year, and Katie Boulter looks set to put on an equally impressive show this summer.
The world’s number 118, from Leicester, easily defeated Frenchwoman Clara Burel in her first game of the tournament in a comfortable 7-5 6-3 victory.
After sustaining a back injury in 2019, she hopes to reach the third round for the first time this afternoon at the All England Club, playing world number 6 Karolina Pliskova in a tough second round duel.
Boulter, 25, tall and easy, who spent part of the lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic as a volunteer for Age UK, often shares glamorous snaps on her Instagram of her adventures training and competing around the world.
Meanwhile, the gorgeous blonde, whose mother Sue is a former tennis coach, confirmed in 2021 that she is in a relationship with top Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur, who has a career-high singles ranking of number 15.
She was nicknamed ‘Britain’s new rising tennis star’ when she was at Wimbledon last year, and Katie Boulter (pictured) looks set to put on an equally impressive show this summer
The world’s number 118, from Leicester, easily defeated Frenchwoman Clara Burel in her first game of the tournament in a comfortable 7-5 6-3 victory. Pictured with her boyfriend Alex de Minaur at an event at Wimbledon in May
Boulter, 25, (pictured with her mother and grandfather), who spent part of the lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic as a volunteer for Age UK, often shares glamorous snaps on her Instagram of her adventures training and competing around the world. world.
Katie’s mother Sue is a former tennis coach. Katie started playing tennis when she was just four years old
She hopes to reach the third round in the All England Club for the first time this afternoon, as she faces off against world number 6 Karolina Pliskova in a tough second round duel.
Growing up in the chic village of Woodhouse Eaves in Leicestershire, Boulter started playing tennis at the age of four and three years later represented Great Britain in a junior competition.
She has previously said that when she was younger, beating her older brother in exhibition games was her motivation.
In 2011, just 14 years old, she reached the final of the Orange Bowl in America, one of the most prestigious junior tennis tournaments.
Before her tennis career, she played the piano and also has a keen interest in fashion, even appearing in Vogue magazine in 2018.
She is also an avid fan of Leicester City Football Club and shares photos online of her playing matches with her grandfather Brian Gartshore, who is in his 80s and invented anti-theft labels to prevent shoplifting of clothing and other items.
“He’s a really smart guy and he’s always been there for me in everything,” Boulter said previously via The Express and Star.
Back on the track: Boulter reached the world ranking of 82 before being injured in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team. Pictured, Katie shared on Instagram in a workout snap
Pose! Katie, who has recovered from injury, shares snaps of her jet set life on Instagram
Boulter reached the world ranking of 82 before being injured in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team.
After the team’s victory over Kazakhstan, she suffered a vertebral fracture that forced her to be sidelined for the rest of the year.
Her rehabilitation was compounded by her battle with chronic fatigue, which she was diagnosed with as a teenager.
This year, however, she is back at Wimbledon, where her beauty Alex is also competing. There is no place like home. Grateful for the opportunity,” Katie said of her return to SW19.
Boulter is confident that if she can stay fit she belongs at the highest level.
On International Women’s Day 2021, Alex made it official with a gushing Instagram post, alongside a photo of the couple sharing a warm hug
Boulter (pictured) reached the world ranking of 82 before being injured in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team
‘I really. I feel like I’ve shown in some competitions recently what I’m capable of,” she said. “It’s just day in, day out. That is the hardest challenge for me.
“Of course I have so much to work on in my game. I really feel like I can keep going. But I feel like I can compete with many of the best players in the world.
“Getting my first top-10 win last week showed me that and it proved to me that I’m there and that’s why I just need to stay fit.
“I really hope I can keep going and stay injury free. That will be my ultimate goal. I’ve said it year in, year out. I’ve spent a lot of time and effort trying to hold myself in court. I hope it will bear fruit this year.’
Boulter’s early evening win at Court 18 in her first Wimbledon match this year saw her become the ninth Briton to qualify for the second round – the most since 1997.
And she loves the ‘magic’ that takes place within the ranks of home players.
Katie Boulter rode through the second round of Wimbledon (Zac Goodwin/PA)
A hug for Emma! Katie greets Emma Raducanu ahead of a Wimbledon training match
‘I absolutely love it. I feel like everyone is pushing themselves, almost pushing each other with the bit of magic that’s going on in British tennis right now,” she said.
“I feel like I’m getting a little bit of it and I hope I can push other people with that. It’s very nice to be apart of it. I know how hard they work behind the scenes.
“Everyone is doing well and hopefully we can keep it that way. We’re in a really, really good place. I hope that, yes, many more victories will come from that.’
On International Women’s Day last year, her boyfriend Alex made their relationship official with a gushing Instagram post, alongside a photo of the couple sharing a warm hug.
Happy International Women’s Day! I don’t mind you especially for this one,” he wrote. She commented “I think you’re okay too” with a love heart and kissing emoji.
Boulter used her time during the 2020 UK lockdown to complete her work for Age UK, a charity for the elderly, where ‘there was an elderly lady I called every week so I could check she’s okay and see whether she should do anything’.