THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Katie Boulter

Press Conference

K. BOULTER/C. Burel

7-5, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Katie, tell us how you're feeling.

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I'm super happy with today. The conditions were pretty tough, to wait all day, get out there when it's a little bit dark, to be in a completely different grass court. I'm on the biggest stage of the world. That definitely pushed me through today. To have such a good crowd behind me as well, that made the difference I think.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Given the injuries you've been through, is there any extra significance, is it poignant for you you've managed to win at Wimbledon?

KATIE BOULTER: Without a doubt. I mean, last year for me was absolutely huge. It gave me a really big boost. I had some really bad injury troubles during that time frame over the grass courts. It kind of spurred me on for the rest of the year. I feel like it's going to do the same thing for me here this year.

I really hope that I can push on and stay injury-free. That's going to be my ultimate goal. I've said it year in, year out. I've dedicated a lot of time and effort into keeping myself on the court. I'm hoping this year it's going to pay off.

Q. Do you feel you're a player, you can be a real contender in any event if you're body is 100%?

KATIE BOULTER: I really do. I feel like I've shown in some of the matches recently some of the stuff that I'm capable of. It's just doing it day in, day out. For me, that is the toughest challenge.

Of course, I've got so much to work on in my game. I really feel like I can push on. But I do feel like I can compete with a lot of the best players in the world.

Getting my first top-10 win last week showed me that and it proved to me I'm there and thereabouts, I've just got to stay fit.

Q. You've had a run of some wins over some top players. What has been behind that form?

KATIE BOULTER: I think a combination of things. Probably a little bit of experience and also the fact that I've been working so hard behind the scenes. I know you guys probably see the best parts. But day in, day out I've been turning up and doing exactly what I've needed to do. I've got a new team behind me. It feels like I'm in a really good place on and off the court.

I feel very well-supported and I think that's crucial in tennis because it's very easy to be out there on your own. But, yeah, I feel like I'm happy and I'm looking forward to new challenges and staying fit, going out and enjoying myself. Ultimately that's the number one goal for everyone.

Q. What are the main things you learnt from your two previous matches, gave Sabalenka...

KATIE BOULTER: Absolutely loads. I feel like I'm going to play many of those matches in my lifetime. Some I'm going to win, some I'm going to lose. It gives me the belief that I can win those matches. I think that's the most important thing. If you don't have the belief, ultimately you're probably not going to win the match.

Me going out there the past few weeks, I put those grass court wins last year under my belt and I felt like I used them in the crucial moments. I learnt from my mistakes against Sabalenka. When I was playing Pliskova last week, it did make a difference to me because I know I can be in those places.

Over the past few years, I've had a lot of close matches with very, very good players, but I could never quite get over the line. I feel like I now have the belief to be able to do that. Hopefully I can produce that more and more.

Q. Pliskova and Martincova are playing right now. I think you have the winner of them. Good to know you've recently beaten whoever you play next.

KATIE BOULTER: For sure, it's doable. It's a completely different week. I'm going to have to go back to my basics and fight hard. I know they're clearly very, very good tennis players. I'm going to have to bring out some of my best stuff. That's what's going to be really good fun for me. I'm going to have to back it up and I hope I can.

Q. You're the ninth British person through to the second round since 1997. What is the atmosphere like in the locker room, cheering each other on?

KATIE BOULTER: I'm absolutely loving it. I feel like everyone's pushing themselves, almost just spurring each other on with the little bit of magic that's going on in British tennis right now. I feel like I'm catching a little bit of it and I hope that I can push other people with that.

It's really nice to be a part of it. I know how hard they work behind the scenes. Everyone's doing great, and hopefully we can keep that going. We're in a really, really good place. I hope that, yeah, many more wins will come off the back of that.

Q. Wanted to know whether Alex got out on court to watch tonight. He was talking about it. Could you talk a little bit about how you inspire each other. It's been a great day for the pair of you.

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, he's a pretty good boyfriend. He made it out to court (smiling).

No, yeah, he's someone that I have a lot of admiration for on and off the tennis court. He is the epitome of a fighter and someone that goes out and gives their all every single day. That's what I aspire to be like. I feel like to have that around me and my team, it really helps me because I can push myself. He helps me do that.

I'm a very lucky girl.

Q. He was saying also he's not in the limelight. There's an Australian player ranked below him who gets more fuss made of him. There's more fuss here made over his girlfriend. He just flies under the radar. Do you find that the admirable trait you're talking about?

KATIE BOULTER: I have so much respect for him, for what he does. He is probably one of the hardest-working guys out there. I try to take a leaf out of his book because it really is impressive. I'm very lucky to be in the position I am, that I get to see it day in, day out. I have so much respect for what he does.

Q. He did say he can see one day he's going to get that spotlight that other players do. Do you believe that he will?

KATIE BOULTER: Without a doubt. I mean, he's got the game for it. We've seen him play many incredible matches against top players. He can beat them. Ultimately those are the matches that are going to give him the spotlight.

I know the work he puts in will give it to him.

Q. As a couple, do you spend a lot of time together during Wimbledon? If so, will you watch tennis, talk about tennis?

KATIE BOULTER: No, we actually do probably more than most people would think. Yeah, I mean, we watch quite a lot of tennis. I feel like we both love the game and we're students of the sport.

Yeah, we like to be a part of it. Of course, we spend a lot of time together during these times and we cherish the ones where we can actually be in the same place at the same time. Ultimately we both travel 30 weeks of the year. We don't always get a chance to see each other.

Yeah, the traveling weeks are probably the best weeks for us.

Q. Nice for him to meet your family, as you would have done when you were in Australia?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, it's so nice. We actually have such a big team at the moment. I have his whole entire team that support me, and my team supports him. It's kind of a great atmosphere to be around. It's so positive. They're all really good people.

I'm just lucky to be a part of that. They're great people.

Q. What did you make of Emma's performance and the pressure she's under?

KATIE BOULTER: It is astonishing to see what that girl does. I actually got really happy when she won yesterday because it's a sparkling moment for her. It's her first Centre Court win. I know for a fact there will be many, many more of those.

To see her doing so, so well after last year... She's in a pretty tough position. She's so young. I think she's handling it better than anyone would. It's nice to see her out there and sparkling, for sure. It's really nice.