My family kept gran’s death secret so I could play, says Boulter
British star dedicates her second-round Wimbledon win to grandmother who inspired her love of tennis
BRITAIN’S new Wimbledon hope dedicated her dramatic victory to her late grandmother yesterday, revealing that her family had kept news of her death a secret until after her first-round match.
Katie Boulter paid a heartfelt tribute to Jill Gartshore, who died aged 83 on Tuesday, as she fought back tears on Centre Court. Her grandfather, Brian Gartshore, who had travelled from Leicestershire to be in the supporters’ box, was visibly moved.
It followed an astonishing fightback yesterday against Karolina Pliskova, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up, after Boulter lost the first set, which galvanised massive support from the crowd.
Speaking after the match she revealed that her grandmother, a regional tennis champion herself, had died the day of her first-round victory against Clara Burel.
“I’m going to get emotional. My gran passed away two days ago so I’d just like to dedicate that to her today,” she said.
Many in the crowd appeared to be crying, including Dame Mary Berry, looking on from the Royal box.
Boulter, 25, later spoke of a phone call with her grandfather – an inventor who developed the anti-theft shopping tag – on Monday evening.
“He didn’t mention anything, but he kind of gave me an inkling it might be coming,” she said.
“I didn’t know anything until after my first match where my mum basically pulled me aside and told me.”
The Briton’s thrilling three-set victory against the world number six was all the more welcome to British fans as it came the day after Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray were knocked out of the championships. It is the furthest the world number 118 has ever progressed at Wimbledon.
Boulter has been plagued with injury and spent years battling chronic fatigue syndrome. She said she had learnt to be patient, and although she did not expect success overnight, she had been inspired by Raducanu’s US Open victory.
“What [(Raducanu]) did was astonishing. She came out, she surprised everyone, and she played some fearless tennis. That’s what’s so impressive,” said Boulter. “I hope I can go out there and do the same thing. I’d love to do what she’s done. You never know, one day it might happen.”
Boulter’s grandmother had been integral to her love of the sport, living close to the tennis club where she hit her first balls as a child. Her mother, Sue, was a professional tennis coach.
Boulter’s boyfriend is the Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur, ranked 27 in the world. Boulter was cheering him on from the Court 1 stands last night as he defeated Jack Draper, the British world number 94.
She said he formed part of the network of support that had allowed her not to be overcome by emotion in this, the most important week of her career.
“Without that network, I’m not sure where I would be. But ultimately I am a fighter,” she said.
Boulter’s next opponent is Harmony Tan, the French player who knocked out the Wimbledon legend, Serena Williams, in the first round on Tuesday.
Last night, fans who had witnessed Boulter’s triumph described their emotion in watching her victory.
Samia Gomez, 40, a sports therapist in Isleworth, south-west London, said she cried when the tennis star spoke about her grandmother.
She told the PA news agency: “I think we need to support all the British players. We are in the UK, this is a British grand slam.”