ROTHESAY INTERNATIONAL

June 27, 2023

Katie Boulter

Devonshire Park

Press Conference

P. MARTIC/K. Boulter

6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Katie, a tough match today. Also, tough conditions. I guess a good opponent. Tell us your thoughts on the match today.

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think it was obviously really tough out there. I'm playing an experienced opponent who has played many matches like these, and ultimately for me my goal was to go out and have a swing and have a go at her. I think the conditions were really tough for me to be able to do that.

I think she was very smart with what she did. She was very comfortable putting the ball in the court and making me work. She served really well today, especially in the big moments. I felt like I had a lot of chances but couldn't quite take any of them.

But yeah, ultimately it was quite a rough match in terms of the conditions, and she played better than me today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Bad luck today. You have sort of had everything tennis can throw up at you the last couple of weeks. The great high of the win and sort of a couple first-round exits back to back. How do you feel going into Wimbledon? Do you feel a little bit light from the last couple of weeks?

KATIE BOULTER: Honestly, no. If I'm honest, the match in Birmingham was very physical for me. I don't think I played any bad tennis at all. I felt like it was mainly coming off the back of a tough physical week. I struggled to get not up for it but I struggled physically to make it over the line.

This week was, again, it wasn't bad tennis. I'm playing someone ranked 30 in the world. I'm having a go at her. Of course it was tough conditions. We can have that, any tournament, at Wimbledon, you can have that in a random tournament, and I have to be ready for it and I have to try and play the best that I can on the day.

Ultimately her experience showed today, and she played better in the biggest moments. I feel like I'm playing some really good tennis. I have practiced unbelievably well every single day this week. I have played seven matches going into the grass. I'm very happy with where I'm at.

Q. You don't think it will affect you adversely at Wimbledon, perhaps not having a couple more matches the last couple of weeks?

KATIE BOULTER: I think we'll find out (smiling). I'm going to work hard these next few days, and I don't think I have lost any confidence these past couple of weeks just because I lost to higher-ranked players. I really don't feel that at all.

Q. It's been 10 years since Andy Murray won Wimbledon. Just wondering what your memories are of seeing that and as a young player how impactful or influential that was?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think it was a huge moment for British tennis. Obviously we watched him and his journey all the way through. We saw him in the final, we saw him, if I distinctly remember, crying in the press conference afterwards, on the court.

I think it touched a lot of people, because we saw how much it meant to him. For him to come back and show his resilience to win, I think that was something that everyone drew, no matter what it was, something from.

I know I definitely did. You know, we all win matches; we all lose matches. But it's how you bounce back. That's something I'm going to remind myself today.

Q. Now that you're back in the top 100, you obviously have the opportunity to play WTA events week in, week out. What is the difference going back to back to back at WTA events compared to ITF events?

KATIE BOULTER: I think the biggest difference is you're playing unbelievable players every single week. You are not going to get given anything for free.

I think that's something where today, you know, I wanted to have a go at her. You can't beat these girls by just putting the ball in the court. You have to go after it. You know what? She used the conditions really well. She put the ball in the court.

Originally, at the start of the match, I tried to play too good, and then I learnt that I had to put it in the court. It's something you have to learn and you have to go through.

There's no easy match on the WTA Tour. You have just got to keep plugging away and your opportunities are going to come.

Q. A cricket investigation was published today, saying that women are treated as subordinate to men. On the same day, the WTA commits to equal prize money.

KATIE BOULTER: Sorry, I didn't realize there was an investigation.

Q. There, there is a cricket article being published today. Today the WTA committed to equal prize money by 2027.

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah.

Q. I just wonder how grateful you feel to be involved in the tennis environment where it seems it's far more equal than other sports?

KATIE BOULTER: I think it's great. If we're projected to be in equal prize money, I think that would be a huge achievement for the sport.

I'll be watching and seeing -- I haven't actually seen the plan, so I'll be keeping an eye out. Yeah, I feel very grateful to be in the position that I am, and hopefully we can keep bringing this sport forward.

Q. Have you always felt within tennis that there is that sort of sense of equality?

KATIE BOULTER: I think it's a very interesting topic. We can fully go into it, but if I'm honest, I probably won't today. I think my mind is pretty busy with the match that I just played, so another day I'll go into it a bit more for you.