HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 12, 2025

Katie Boulter

Queens Club

Press Conference

D. SHNAIDER/K. Boulter

2-6, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Hard luck, Katie. What made Diana such a difficult opponent today?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, a tough match. I felt like there were some really, really positives to take from the match. You know, ultimately she's a very good player and I expected a really tough match, especially with her ranking, but at the same time, I felt like I played some much better grass court tennis than I had done previously, so it's a step in the right direction. Yeah, roll on the next weeks.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Tough luck today. I know you spoke earlier in the week about kind of the emotion of being here at the women's event. I wonder how you found it as a whole being here and how important this event is for women's tennis here and more broadly?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I mean, I absolutely love my time here. Obviously, as a British player, I always take these losses a lot harder than most of the other ones. I want to do well here. I wish I could have been here longer.

But, you know, also, at the same time, I am very well aware that a lot of tournaments are based on draws and matchups and who you play and who you don't. Today she was better than me.

Yeah, I mean, credit to her. She's been playing some really good stuff. Over the past year, we actually spent a lot of time together in Asia last year. I've always thought she's always going to be very tough to beat. I lost to her 6-2, 6-1 in Hong Kong, so for me, it's a step in the right direction, some much better tennis, and to show that I can get close to beating somebody like that.

I think the reason why I was quite disappointed today was because I really felt like I could win that match. You know, I think that's a good problem to have. If I sat here losing 1 and 2 and didn't feel like I was in the match, then fair enough, but I think I was more upset about it because I felt like I could have won it.

Q. Tough luck today. In the live rankings next week, it means Emma just moves ahead of you as the British No. 1. What importance do you give that?

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, tennis is a funny one. You know, some people lose 250 points one week, some people lose zero, some people lose 100. It's something that happens every single week.

I'm very well aware that I lost 250 this week, because Nottingham was next week and the scheduling's been different. Of course I personally want to be getting my ranking moving in the right direction. I'm very happy for her to be British No. 1.

But at the same time, it's going to be fun for me to chase her now, and I think she's been doing that for a while. Now it's kind of my turn.

Q. Where do you feel like your game is going into Nottingham next week? Obviously it's a tournament close to your heart, defending the title there. Where do you feel like your game is after one week on the grass?

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, it's difficult to kind of say after one week on the grass. I actually think today, the first set was some of the best grass court tennis I have played. I felt a lot sharper on the ball than I did in my first round.

I think it's just week by week. I mean, look, grass court tennis is very quick. Anything can happen. As you can see today, the match was very topsy-turvy. I find that a lot on grass. It's just racking up the wins and continuing, trusting and believing week in, week out. You know, there are going to be some tough losses along the way, and that's kind of tennis.

Q. Wimbledon are aware of issues that female tennis players have had this year with stalkers and harassment and et cetera. They're going to improve the security for all players at the Championships. That's obviously a good thing, isn't it? What's your feeling that Wimbledon are being aware of looking after its players moving between courts and on the grounds at SW19?

KATIE BOULTER: Sorry, what was the question?

Q. Wimbledon are looking to improve security, because female athletes, like Emma, like yourself, have spoken out about harassment and abuse, stalkers, et cetera. They are looking to protect the athletes. Just your general comments on that. It's obviously a good thing, isn't it?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think that's a really good thing. I think they've obviously noticed there has been a few issues with it and they are reacting to it, which is really good to see.

I don't know necessarily what that will entail there. I guess I'll find out more when I get there. But it's really good to see them putting emphasis on it and making the players seem very comfortable, and I think that's so important.

Q. Overall, how did you find this tournament? It's a new event. How did you find the atmosphere and the surroundings, things like that, compared to the other British events?

KATIE BOULTER: I've absolutely loved it. I mean, Queen's is everything that I kind of dreamt it would be. I feel like every single day I have stepped out on the court, it's been a great crowd. It's such a nice court to play on. It's a beautiful court.

I have enjoyed it a lot. I wish it could have been longer, but I felt like I really came accustomed to everything here very quickly.

I personally don't love new tournaments basically, because I don't know where I'm going, I don't know what I'm doing, but I felt very comfortable from the get-go. I feel like that's a credit to the people that work here, and they've shown me around very quickly and made sure that I've got to the right place. I have never been lost or anything like that.

Yeah, it's been a joy to actually play here, and to get the opportunity is such a privilege. I'll be back many, many more years, I'm sure.

Q. Do you think it will promote as well women's tennis in this country?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think it's a really good opportunity for women's tennis. I think it's really nice to see everybody making an effort to have the women here. Obviously it was a massive schedule change and probably quite risky at the same time, because we are quite set in our ways. Yeah, I feel like it's a moment for women's tennis and women's sport in general right now.

I'm going to enjoy watching it grow more and more. I think it's in a place that it should be and it's pushing more and more towards where it could be. So, yeah, week by week, I'm sure we will keep improving.

Q. I saw you this week playing doubles with Emma Raducanu. You had a very tough match yesterday against some top-ranked doubles players. What do you think is the biggest difference between top-class doubles tennis and top-class singles tennis? And what could you apply from the doubles court into your singles game?

KATIE BOULTER: I think playing doubles is really important as a singles player. Personally, for me, I know physically I can't play week in, week out. I wish I could, but I honestly can't.

It's just a bit too much for my body, and the turnaround day by day is really tough for me. But I think you can learn a lot on the doubles court. There's a lot of serve/ return, which is extremely important, as it is in singles, especially on this surface, looking to use your volleys, coming forward. There are a lot of things you can implement into the singles game.

Yeah, I think it's really fun to play. I personally always have a smile on my face in doubles, because I just find it enjoyable to play. I feel like there is a lot less stress. I think I'm much more relaxed about it, because I'm not putting so much stress on myself.

Yeah, I had a great time playing with Emma this week. I'm sure we will do it at some point. I'm not sure when, but at some point I'm sure we will.

Q. Wimbledon?

KATIE BOULTER: I don't know about that one. Maybe we'll find out a little later if we do that or not. It's not in the plans at the moment (smiling).

Q. Obviously it's not been a problem for you in the past with Nottingham, but the fact that it's a week later and you have had some time on the grass, does that give you confidence? And also, you mentioned that 250 points has dropped off this week. So again, is there less pressure being the defending champion there?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I actually, yeah, sitting here right now, I personally don't feel any pressure. I'm actually quite excited to go out and swing free now my points are off this week, so I've got nothing to lose from now.

It's not like I had a massive run in Wimbledon or in Eastbourne last year, so yeah, I can take a breath. I can enjoy it. I can enjoy playing now. And, you know, I'm on my favorite surface, I've got a great chance, I'm at my home tournament. I can swing free and, yeah, hopefully make a few more points.

But honestly, like, I find that's not necessarily my focus. It really isn't. My focus is to keep improving my game, and to play matches like this today and start showing that I can beat people around that ranking, as well.

You know, I'm getting closer. I've got a long way to go at the same time, but I feel like I am making progress, albeit not as quickly as I would have liked.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to playing at Nottingham. I'm going to feel very familiar with the place and going to be back in my mum's place and sleeping with family, so I'm looking forward to that.