Katie Boulter, British tennis’ golden girl, is paying NO attention to her growing celebrity status… with the newly-crowned British No 1 focused on triumphing at Wimbledon, one year on from THAT heart-warming victory
- Katie Boulter is the new face of British tennis but is solely focused on success
- Her star status has skyrocketed since winning hearts at Wimbledon last year
- Boulter is heading into her first Grand Slam tournament as British No 1
She’s the newly-anointed golden girl of British tennis, cover star of Tatler and on the front page of many newspapers including the Daily Mail – but Katie Boulter would not know it.
Going into her first Grand Slam as British No 1, Leicester-born Boulter has been blocking out the noise by not reading the media and focusing on staying grounded.
The 26-year-old won the hearts of the British public last year when she cried on court after pulling off one of the upsets of the tournament in beating 2021 finalist Karolina Pliskova just two days after the death of her grandmother Jill.
That emotional win was Boulter’s biggest victory at a major and she says it is inspiring her ahead of Wimbledon, in which she comes with the added weight of the British No 1 tag in lieu of 2021 US Open winner Emma Raducanu.
‘Getting over the line against Pliskova was the hardest thing I’ve ever done,’ said Boulter, who plays Aussie world No 228 Daria Saville on Tuesday. ‘And I’ve taken a lot of confidence from serving out that match. I’m feeling very privileged to be here, I’m feeling very grounded.
Katie Boulter is ready for her first Grand Slam tournament as British No 1 ahead of Wimbledon
Boulter broke down in tears one year ago after beating 2021 finalist Karolina Pliskova just two days after the death of her grandmother
‘Whatever happens on the court, I’ll be fighting – I’ll put my heart out and I will use that a lot. Everything is going smoothly and to plan, and I’m feeling good and looking forward to competing.’
Boulter has deals with Nike, Wilson and Jaguar, appeared on the front cover of Tatler and had an photoshoot in Vogue, but she says she has not been paying attention to the added fame she has received in the last 12 months.
‘I haven’t seen any of the newspapers,’ she laughed when asked about now being in the eye of the general public and not just tennis fans. ‘But I am here feeling very privileged. I have to get a job done and keep grounded. I need to work as much as possible to keep as ready as ever.
‘I wouldn’t say anything has changed (since being No 1). I love to have that feeling when the crowd is roaring and I appreciate it more than anything else on this planet, hopefully I can use that.
‘I have an incredible team, boyfriend and friends around me who are super level headed and keep me grounded.’
Boulter and Aussie boyfriend Alex Di Minaur, men’s world No 16, are renting a house a stone’s throw from the All England Club with both families and says the familiarity and relaxing time is helping her preparation for Wimbledon.
Boulter’s celebrity status has grown significantly over the last year but she is solely focused on success
‘We all get to spend a whole lot of time together,’ she said. ‘I have the option of popping out when I want to – I know where the closest coffee shop is, where the stringers are – so this is a place I can call home.
‘I feel very comfortable in my own skin. I know I have put the work in for the British No 1. I’ve sat here and watched Wimbledon, I don’t take anything for granted… just being here and playing and being a part of this tournament, it’s pretty special.’
Boulter says her main goal for the fortnight is to play with a smile on her face. There were no such smiles in the British half of the Boulter-Di Minaur house last night as the Aussies took the spoils in the Ashes.
‘The cricket, hey…’ she joked. ‘We’re quite a competitive couple…’ Advantage Di Minaur for now, then.
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