Katie Boulter WINS first game in clash with Karolina Pliskova

Katie Boulter LOSES first set 6-3 to Karolina Pliskova – as British hopes dwindle after Emma and Andy crashed out of Wimbledon

  • Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray both lost yesterday in a blow for home fans
  • Boulter takes centre stage as she comes up against world no6 Karolina Pliskova
  • Follow all the latest developments from SW19 with our Wimbledon live blog here 

Katie Boulter has lost the first set of her second-round clash with Karolina Pliskova at Wimbledon.

The Brit was beaten 6-3 in just over half an hour on Centre Court, despite the perfect start in which she broke serve to win the first game.

The home crowd on roared in support of the rising star, who is one of just six British players left in the championships after the double disappointment of defeats for Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray yesterday.

Boulter is taking on Pliskova – a finalist last year and number six in the world – on SW19’s biggest stage this afternoon, with the hope of making it to the last 32.

The 25-year-old impressed crowds last year when she made the second round and is looking to go one better this afternoon. 

Britain’s Katie Boulter made the perfect start at Wimbledon today as she broke serve to win the first game in her second-round clash with Karolina Pliskova

The home crowd on Centre Court roared in support of the rising star, who is one of just six British players left in the championships after the double disappointment of defeats for Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray yesterday

Boulter is taking on Pliskova – a finalist last year and number six in the world – on SW19’s biggest stage this afternoon, with the hope of making it to the last 32

Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in action during her second round match against Karolina Pliskova

Britain’s Katie Boulter is back in action at Wimbledon today as she takes to Centre Court hoping to make it into the last 32 of the championships

Meanwhile, Heather Watson needed only eight minutes on Thursday to reach the third round at Wimbledon for the first time in five years with a straight sets victory over Wang Qiang.

The British number three saw her round two tie suspended on Wednesday night due to bad light after she had been broken while trying to serve for the match.

Watson returned to Court 18 at 1.43pm and despite failing to take her first two match points, got the job done at the third time of asking to break again and secure a 7-5 6-4 win.

Tall and with easy power, Boulter, from Leicester, has risen as high as 82 in the world and looks to have the most potential of the younger generation of Brits. 

The player, who spent part of lockdown volunteering for Age UK, often shares glamorous snaps on her Instagram of her adventures training and competing around the world.

She also confirmed she is dating top-ranked Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur, who is due on Court 1 himself this afternoon. 

Boulter reached the world ranking of 82 before she was struck down with injury in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team.

Following the team’s victory over Kazakhstan she suffered a spinal stress fracture, side lining her for the rest of the year.

Her rehabilitation was compounded by her battle with chronic fatigue, which she was diagnosed with as a teenager.

But in an interview last year she said she feels like ‘I’ve officially conquered it’ and revealed how she is ‘as strong as I have ever been physically’. 

Boulter used her time during 2020’s UK lockdown to complete work with Age UK, a charity for the elderly, where ‘there was one elderly lady I called every week so I could check that she’s OK and see if she needs anything doing’. 

Britain’s next tennis superstar? Everything you need to know about Katie Boulter 

Tall and with easy power, Boulter, 25, from Leicester, has risen as high as 82 in the world and looks to have the most potential of the younger generation of Brits. 

The player, who spent part of last year’s lockdown volunteering for Age UK, often shares glamorous snaps on her Instagram of her adventures training and competing around the world.

Meanwhile, the stunning blonde also confirmed last year she is dating top-ranked Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur, currently ranked No. 15.


British rising star Katie Boulter, 24, from Leicester, confirmed she was dating top-ranked Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur last year

On International Women’s Day, Alex made it official with a gushing Instagram post, alongside a photo of the pair sharing a warm embrace

Boulter came close to springing a major Centre Court surprise last year after taking the first set against second seed Aryna Sabalenka.

But the world number four from Belarus came back to knock out Boulter 4-6 6-3 6-3.

Boulter stepped up to carry the flag for the home challenge when she saved Britain’s female contingent from a day-one wipeout.

The then 24-year-old ground down American qualifier Danielle Lao 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 to set up a second-round date with big-hitting Belarusian Arnya Sabalenka, the No 2 seed.

‘Having been absent for a couple years, it really means so much,’ said Boulter. ‘Ultimately it wasn’t pretty out there, I knew it wasn’t going to be. But I fought so hard, found a way. I feel like that’s what tennis is really about.’  

Tall and with easy power, Boulter (pictured), 24, from Leicester, has risen as high as 82 in the world and looks to have the most potential of the younger generation of Brits

The player (pictured), who spent part of last year’s lockdown volunteering for Age UK, often shares glamorous snaps on her Instagram of her adventures training and competing around the world

It was her first appearance at the All England Club for three years and, given the circumstances, it really was a terrific display. 

Having suffered a back injury which kept her out of Wimbledon in 2019, Boulter then picked up a right elbow issue just as she was going well in Nottingham earlier this month.

That elbow was thoroughly bandaged during the match and heavily iced afterwards.

‘At the moment it feels great,’ she said of the injury. ‘Ultimately I’m managing it this tournament. It didn’t hinder me in any way.’

Boulter arrived late to Court 17 and her game took some time to show up too as she fell 5-2 down.

Yesterday, Boulter (pictured) stepped up to carry the flag for the home challenge when she saved Britain’s female contingent from a day-one wipeout

Boulter (pictured) reached the world ranking of 82 before she was struck down with injury in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team

She had a couple of spats with umpire Mohamed Lahyani, which could have been the jolt she needed to get back on level terms and force a tiebreak.

Lao — a tricky, scurrying opponent — edged the breaker 8-6 but there were increasing signs that Boulter was finding her range.

By the end, she looked comfortably the better player, dominating with her serve and easy power. Boulter was cheered on by her mother and grandfather, as well as her boyfriend Alex de Minaur, the Australian world No 15.

‘It feels pretty special to be back home, in front of a British crowd,’ said Boulter. ‘It really does make a difference.’  

On International Women’s Day, her boyfriend Alex made it official with a gushing Instagram post, alongside a photo of the pair sharing a warm embrace. 

Katie Boulter celebrates in her Ladies’ Singles Second Round match against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during Day Three of The Championships

Boulter reached the world ranking of 82 before she was struck down with injury in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team (pictured)

‘Happy International Women’s Day! Specially to this one, I don’t mind you,’ he wrote. She commented: ‘Guess you’re OK too’ with a love heart and kissing emoji.

Boulter reached the world ranking of 82 before she was struck down with injury in April 2019 when she was part of Great Britain’s Federation Cup team.

Following the team’s victory over Kazakhstan she suffered a spinal stress fracture, side lining her for the rest of the year.

Her rehabilitation was compounded by her battle with chronic fatigue, which she was diagnosed with as a teenager.

But in a recent interview she said she feels like ‘I’ve officially conquered it’ and revealed how she is ‘as strong as I have ever been physically’. 

Boulter used her time during last year’s UK lockdown to complete work with Age UK, a charity for the elderly, where ‘there was one elderly lady I called every week so I could check that she’s OK and see if she needs anything doing’. 

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