Britain’s Tennis Number One Shares Her Secrets To Success
The Journey
Tennis has always been in my family. My grandparents played and then my mum played for GB and was a coach, so I was around the game from a very young age. My earliest memories are with my grandpa, who would bring balloons over and we would play games using the sofa as a net!
Becoming British number one has definitely been a journey. Nothing worth having comes easily. Now I’m at my highest ranking, I can take a look at the good and the bad. I’ve had some tough moments, but I’ve always kept going. Huge credit has to go to my team; I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.
The hardest moments of my career are the ones that have shaped me the most. I had a back stress fracture when I broke into the top 100 a few years ago. But it’s moments like that that give you the resilience you need to play this sport. Every day I walk out with a smile on my face – I’m so thankful I can still compete at the highest level.
I’ve never been prouder of myself than after my first win at Wimbledon. It was back in 2019, I had my back stress fracture, and I was playing for England too. I managed to win the tie for us, putting us into the finals for the first time in 26 years. We did it in front of a home crowd and I won against a top ten player. It was a dream come true.
The On-Court Regime
Having a routine is super important. There is no winning formula, but I try to keep things as similar as possible each time I play a match. I have the same meal – pasta and chicken with a tomato sauce – to fuel me. I also have a little piece of glass which says ‘a little piece of luck’ in my bag – my grandpa gave it to me when I was little and I always look at it before I go onto court.
Staying match fit is really challenging. Huge credit has to go to my physio who has kept me going and luckily, I’ve had very few injuries. We’ve put the hard work in, and it really is my physio, my team and my fitness coach who keep me on track.
I’m lucky to love what I do. I know I play my best tennis when I'm relaxed and happy and enjoying what I do. Getting into that headspace has been a skill I’ve had to learn. It’s so easy to get frustrated, but I try to focus on each point in the match and remind myself I’m here to have fun as well. I also regularly work with a sports psychologist.
Fashion definitely influences my on-court look. I’ve been with Nike for over ten years now; they were the first brand I fell in love with as a kid, so it’s been great to step out on court wearing the brand’s clothing. It’s so important to feel comfortable, confident and empowered as a female on and off the court, and this can really manifest through what you wear. The outfits are stylish, and I love the designs – it would be great to be able to help create some of my own one day.
I’ve had many losses in my career, and many great moments too. Years ago, I was playing Wimbledon qualifiers, I was 5-0 up serving for the match, and I lost that match. It’s the only time I’ve lost from that position in the final set and it stuck with me. That experience – remembering how that felt – has actually got me through a lot of future matches. Another time I had match point against a higher-ranked player and ended up losing the match for my country – that stung. I learnt so much from that situation and now I use it to motivate myself. If I can get through that, I know I can get through anything.
The results are starting to show for me now. Recently, I had the best win of my career against Jessica Pegula – the world number five. I still have a long way to go and I’m excited for what’s to come but it was nice to get that win early in the season as it proved my pre-season work is starting to pay off. It really motivates me to work harder and continue to stand my ground.
The Off-Court Life
It’s hard to find a balance sometimes. I’m very lucky because my boyfriend also plays tennis, so we often go to the same places. But it’s definitely hard being away from my family so much. And it’s hard not seeing Alex when he’s playing in different tournaments. You have to find things you enjoy doing, so I love spending my downtime at coffee shops or just getting my nails done – things that make me feel good when I’m travelling.
Off-court dressing is just as important to me. I’m nearly always wearing sports clothes but when I'm not working, I turn to brands that are comfy and make me feel good. Aligne and LouLou Studio are great, and of course With Nothing Underneath for shirts. Gucci if I'm going all out for a special occasion. But I love to shop pre-loved, too – Reluxe is great for this.
I owe my grandparents so much. I’m very grateful to them and, as such, I’m very passionate about Age UK. The people behind it are an incredible group that’s really welcomed me into the charity. I’ve learnt so much from just sitting and chatting with elderly people who may be lonely, but still have so much to give. I find my work with them really fulfilling.
I’ve supported Greenhouse Sports for a number of years now. It’s an organisation that offers sports mentoring and coaching to kids from different backgrounds to help them thrive and develop through sport. I looked up to all the British players when I was a kid – it’s one of the main reasons I got into tennis – so if I can inspire any kids to take up tennis and find enjoyment in sport, then that’s extremely worthwhile.
There are so many girls coming up in British tennis now. My advice to them is to enjoy the ride. I’m super grateful for what I get to do each day and I certainly don’t take it for granted. It’s a long road, so don’t get disheartened if it doesn’t fall into place straight away. It has taken a really long time to get where I am but always have faith and keep persevering. It can be hard if you get injured, so you have to learn to pick yourself up and hold onto the belief that you’ll be at the top of your game again one day. Patience is key.
Follow @KatieCBoulter on Instagram.
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