Katie Boulter hopes to be rewarded for her stellar start at Wimbledon with a Centre Court slot on Saturday when she faces defending champion Elena Rybakina in a blockbuster third-round match.
The 26-year-old showed that she befits her new status as British No1 as she reached the third round on Thursday with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Viktoriya Tomova. In doing so, she became the first British woman in 36 years to reach the third round twice in two consecutive summers.
“It’s really important for me to get through matches like that”, said Boulter after her win over the Bulgarian. “I tried to dig deep and stick to my game plan. Today, it paid off.”
Of facing Rybakina, last year’s singles champion, Boulter added: “It’s a super opportunity for me. I’ve got nothing to lose. She’s clearly the defending champion for a reason. I’ve got a lot of tennis behind me. It’s time for me to test my skills against an incredible champion.
“You put me on a practice court, you’re going to get the same Katie that you’re going to get on Centre Court. But, of course, the roar from the crowd really gives you something else. That’s the stuff that really spurs you on.”
With high seeds Coco Gauff, Maria Sakkari and Jelena Ostapenko already out, Boulter was reminded that she, unlike most players, has produced many of the finest wins of her career on grass.
“I’m playing really well,” the world No89 reflected. “I’ve played a lot of matches on grass. I feel very comfortable.
“I think it’s just about game styles. We [Brits] embrace the [grass-court season] a lot. On a grass court, I feel like I have more of an opportunity to play my game.
“These last few weeks, they’ve been quite the roller-coaster. I think everything that’s been going on has been a huge testament to my perseverance.”
