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My family kept gran’s death secret so I could play at Wimbledon, says Katie Boulter

Katie Boulter (GBR) sheds a tear following her victory over Karolina Pliskova (CZE) in the Ladies' Singles 2nd Round match during day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2022 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES
Katie Boulter (GBR) sheds a tear following her victory over Karolina Pliskova (CZE) in the Ladies' Singles 2nd Round match during day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2022 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 30, 2022 in London, England. - GETTY IMAGES

Britain’s new Wimbledon hope dedicated her dramatic victory to her grandmother on Thursday, revealing that her family had kept news of her death a secret until after her first-round match.

Fighting back the tears, a “shaking” Katie Boulter paid a heartfelt tribute to her beloved relative, Jill Gartshore, amid emotional scenes on Centre Court.

Her grieving grandfather, Brian Gartshore, had travelled from Leicestershire to be in the supporters’ box and cheered on the British wildcard, visibly moved.

Katie Boulter's family were moved by her words after the win - PA
Katie Boulter's family were moved by her words after the win - PA

It followed an astonishing fightback against Karolina Pliskova, last year’s Wimbledon runner-up to whom Boulter had lost the first set, which galvanised massive support from the crowd.

After the match she revealed that her grandmother, a regional tennis champion herself, had died on Tuesday, 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, who wept a tear from her eye.

Boulter, 25, later spoke of a phone call with her grandfather - an inventor who invented 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.”

Britain's Katie Boulter cries after winning Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova at the end of their women's singles tennis match on the fourth day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2022. - GETTY IMAGES
Britain's Katie Boulter cries after winning Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova at the end of their women's singles tennis match on the fourth day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 30, 2022. - GETTY IMAGES

The Briton’s thrilling three-set victory against the world number 6 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.

She has been plagued with injury and spent years battling chronic fatigue syndrome.

Speaking after the game, Boulter 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.

“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, who died aged 83, had been integral to her early love of the sport, living close to the tennis club where she hit her first balls as a child.

“I’ve spent a lot of time on the courts there with my grandparents and my family.”

Meanwhile her mother, Sue, was a professional tennis coach.

Cheering her on in the Centre Court box was also her brother, James Gartshore Boutler, 29, a venture capitalist and talent agent.

At the moment of victory, he could be seen fighting back his own tears and squeezing his grandfather’s shoulder.

Katie Boulter has previously described her hero worship of the 86-year-old.

“He is literally my idol, someone I look up to.”

“He put down the airfield lights at Gatwick and Heathrow, he is a pretty damn smart guy. And we have some really great conversations about absolutely nothing to do with tennis. It’s just a nice little getaway.”

Boulter’s boyfriend is the Australian tennis player Alex de Minaur, who played Jack Draper on Court No1 on Thursday.

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.

Katie Boulter watches the action between Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper during their Gentlemen’s singles second round match during day four of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. - PA
Katie Boulter watches the action between Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper during their Gentlemen’s singles second round match during day four of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. - PA

“Without that network, I’m not sure where I would be. But ultimately I am a fighter,” she said.

Boulter's next opponent on Saturday will be Harmony Tan, the Frenchwoman who upset seven-times champion Serena Williams in the first round.