Boulter, crushed in third round, was “emotionally drained” after four weeks of competition

Katie Boulter said she reached her own limits after a long sequence of training and competition, after she was trounced (6-1, 6-1) by Frenchwoman Harmony Tan.

Katie Boulter, Wimbledon 2022 Katie Boulter reacts during her third round match against France’s Harmony Tan © AI / Reuters / Panoramic

Katie Boulter’s Wimbledon dream has come to an end. The British hopeful who stunned last year’s finalist Karolina Pliskova in round 2 was eliminated at Wimbledon by Harmony Tan, having hardly no chance on Court No2 (6-1, 6-1).

“I think I’m just a little bit emotionally drained, if I’m honest”, admitted Boulter, during a press conference on Saturday, after losing to Harmony Tan in the third round of the Wimbledon.

It’s been a long few weeks. I’m not going to even talk about this week. I think this week was the cherry on top. I’ve been working so hard for a long period of time, getting through an injury to start with is a huge, huge struggle, and I made it through, and I’m here and played some amazing tennis week in, week out. I’ve played a lot of matches. I sort of went from zero to a hundred quite quickly”

Boulter: “The tipping point”

Boulter, aged 25 and ranked 108 WTA, played 13 matches in four weeks across Nottingham, Birmingham, Eastbourne and Wimbledon, after three months away from competition. She also lost her grandmother at the beginning of Wimbledon.

“This week has probably been the tipping point,” she admitted. “I’ve played some great matches. It’s also been very emotional. I think today was one step too far for me. Credit to her (Harmony Tan), she was playing some tough, tough tennis. Clearly it was a bit much. But, yeah, it was not an easy one for me today”.

Boulter made it clear that she had not contracted a new injury at Wimbledon.

“I’m completely fine, Boulter explained. I’m just a little bit mentally tapped out. It’s been a big push for me every single day. I was probably tired going into this tournament. As you’ve seen, it’s been a long, physical battle for me the past few days. But it’s great because I’ve played so many matches, and I know that I’m stronger than ever”.

You never know, hopefully I can do what Emma (Raducanu) did last year.

Katie Boulter

No points for Wimbledon a harsh reality

Boulter regrets she won’t get the points from the WTA from this Wimbledon edition, like any other player in her position (and there are many). These points would probably have driven her to a direct entry in the draw of the US Open

“I’ll be ready for qualies this year,” she said, looking ahead to New York. “If it’s this year, next year, whatever year it might be, it’s a privilege to play the tournament at all. You never know, hopefully I can do what Emma did last year. Hey, we’re a long way away from that and I’m just going to go out there and enjoy myself.

“I’m sure a little bit of a rest and a mental break will get me ready for the rest of the year. I think actually I was scheduled not to play these four in a row myself, coming back from injury. It just so happened that I wasn’t ready for Surbiton and I wanted to push myself and play these four. Going forward, I’ll be probably playing three and then having a break, three and having a break. I think that will be my tactic going forward so I can stay fresh and stay ready. I’ll be prepared for whatever’s thrown in my direction.”

 

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