Katie Boulter breaks new ground at Wimbledon to oust 2021 finalist Pliskova

Before her bounteous grass-court summer began, Katie Boulter had not beaten a single top 40 player in her life. Her total record against top 50 opposition was 4-14, not where a player with such high aspirations would like to be, and in those big moments she was yet to truly fly. But still, throughout her career Boulter has always carried with her the reputation of a player who loves the grand occasions and thrives in the face of the toughest challenges.

On the biggest stage of all, Centre Court, Boulter’s reputation accorded with reality in spectacular fashion as she produced the biggest win of her career to upset Karolina Pliskova, the sixth seed and last year’s finalist, reaching a grand slam third round for the first time in her career with a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 win.

“I got absolutely no words right now, I’m literally shaking,” said Boulter afterwards. “The crowd was unbelievable so thank you so much for getting me through that.”

Despite her speechlessness, Boulter had entered the match with palpable belief. After starting the grass court season by clinching her first ever top 40 win over No.35 Alison Riske, last week Boulter edged out Pliskova herself 6-4 in the third set for her first ever top 10 win.

Boulter is tall, 5’11, blessed with a solid first serve and a weighty forehand that she is constantly looking to dictate with. She knows that she has the weapons to pierce many defences and she started the match in blazing form, standing inside the baseline, searing forehands and establishing a 2-0 lead.

But she came back to earth quickly. The best players in the world prod at her weaknesses, exposing her movement and forcing her to reach for the ball where she is most uncomfortable. As Pliskova calmly played with controlled aggression, patiently waiting for the right ball to impose herself, Boulter’s brief lead crumbled and she reeled off five games in a row before taking the set.

As the second set began, Boulter adjusted. She reined in her game and tried to be more selective with her attack. Neither player flowed well, with unforced errors constant and Pliskova’s mounting double faults, but she kept hold of her serve in the second half of the second set and then she was the more consistent player in the tiebreak.

Katie Boulter in action against Pliskova. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

By the third set, Boulter was clearly the better player. She served extremely well, winning her own service games with ease while continually putting Pliskova under pressure whenever she missed a first serve. She had her chances at 2-2 in the set, forcing deuce before striking too many overzealous backhands with the opportunity in sight.

Finally, she made her move at 4-4 with a tremendous return game, sealing the break with a crushing backhand down the line winner. With the triumph of her life on the line, she attacked nervelessly, finishing a bold service game at the net with a deft volley winner.

Moments after victory, as she took in her achievement, tears welled in Boulter’s eyes. She reflected both on the family that had come to support her and those who could not be there: “I’m probably going to cry,” she said. “My gran passed away two days ago and I just want to dedicate this to her.”

Three years ago, Boulter was a top 100 player herself and she seemed to have vast room to improve. But then a stress fracture in her back arrested her momentum. Having been ranked highly enough to compete in Wimbledon on merit that year, she was forced to withdraw and she ended the year outside of the top 300.

It has been a long road back since. As she has tried to rise back up the rankings, now ranked No.118, the progress she has made has been stunted by continuous injury issues. When she has been healthy, she also faced the challenge of humbling herself back to playing lower level ITF events, far away from the spectacle of Centre Court, after she thought she had finally left them. But this grass season, it has finally come together.

“I feel like I’ve shown in some of the matches recently some of the stuff that I’m capable of.” she said earlier in the week. 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.”

On a bustling Centre Court. that feeling became a reality. She next faces Harmony Tan of France, victor over Serena Williams on Tuesday, as she looks to carry on.

“It’s a dream come true for me, I’ve got hopefully many more matches to play,” Boulter said.