Tennis star Katie on lockdown life and returning to competitive action
COUNTY TENNIS STAR IS BACK IN COMPETITIVE ACTION AFTER HER STINT AS AGE UK VOLUNTEER
KATIE Boulter is getting ready to play in her first event since the coronavirus pandemic halted the tennis season.
The 23-year-old, from Woodhouse Eaves, is playing in the Progress Tour Women’s Championships, which begin today at the National Tennis Centre, in Roehampton.
The behind-closed-doors event aims to give British players some competition before the professional tour resumes in August.
Boulter says the nationwide lockdown in March came at just the wrong time for her.
She had just rediscovered some of her best tennis after a long injury lay-off.
“I can’t wait to return to competitive action at the Progress Tour Women’s Championships,” she told Eurosport.
“After everything we’ve all been through, individually and collectively, I’m trying to approach the event with the right perspective.
“I try not to think too far ahead in terms of my goals.
“Right now, the aim for me is to stay healthy and just to keep working hard and improving, day by day. I know if I do that, my ranking will take care of itself and I’ll start moving towards where I want to be,” said Leicester-born Boulter, who is ranked 85 in the world.
“This Championships is another stepping stone on that journey, and playing against some of the best British players is definitely going to get me fired up.
“I’m looking forward to being back out on the court and competing again.
“The WTA Tour and professional tennis players are heading into the unknown for the rest of the season, but I’m excited at the prospect of being back on tour and being able to travel, train and play, which is normal life for me for 30 weeks of the year.”
Boulter admits she didn’t pick up a tennis racket for the entire period that Britain was in lockdown.
“I spent a lot of time at the National Training Centre just before the restrictions came in and I was practising right up to the moment we went into full lockdown mode,” she said.
“I was able to continue physical training at home thanks to the equipment provided by the LTA, which included an exercise bike, medicine balls and other essentials, so thankfully I was able to keep my basic levels of fitness.
“I also spent a lot of time working on my mental approach. I spoke to my psychologist on a regular basis: it’s important to me to keep that routine.
“It helped me to deal with the situation we were all facing and enabled me to keep things in perspective and keep my mind focused on the bigger picture.
The key thing for me during this entire lockdown experience has been to try and find positive outcomes.
“It would be easy to dwell on the hundreds of negative impacts for all of us in our everyday lives, but I was trying to use the time at home in the best possible way and control the controllables.
“As well as maintaining my physical and mental wellbeing, I’ve been volunteering with Age UK.
“I’m really close to my grandparents, who have been tremendously supportive in my life and my career.
“They’ve given me so much and, like millions of others up and down the country, not being able to see them has been really tough.
“I know they have found it hard not to be with our family and that made me want to assist others in a similar situation.
“I have really enjoyed helping people who were feeling a little lonely by chatting on the phone, doing their shopping and generally trying to provide support and make their lives a little bit easier.”
In another interview with BBC Sport, Boulter reveals she has been sharing her Leicestershire home with fellow tennis player Laura Robson.
“Laura’s got really into baking – I’m not sure it’s good for me having to eat cakes every single day of the lockdown!” said Boulter, who had originally invited Robson to stay at the flat while she was away at some tournaments before she herself ended up back there too.
“I think it’s fair to say I’ve been on the watt bike a little bit more than usual.”