ROLAND GARROS

May 25, 2026

Katie Boulter

Press Conference

K. BOULTER/A. Urhobo

6-4, 4-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Katie, congratulations. Not an easy match, but no Grand Slam matches are easy. Can you just talk about your perspective and how today went?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I mean, very difficult today. I mean, she's obviously very fresh into the WTA, clearly got a big ball on her, prefers clay a lot.

I feel like, you know, people like that are obviously very dangerous, because they normally play above their level, you know, in tournaments like this, as they have no pressure.

I think for me it was a little bit of a roller coaster. I think some parts of it were good. Some parts of it I was almost playing to what she was giving me. I think that's almost where I got myself in a little bit of a pickle.

I think at the start me just putting the ball in the court felt, you know -- because I think she was a little bit nervous at the start -- felt enough, and then she started to hit bigger and play bigger, and I wasn't fully hitting it.

So I think I had to force myself in the end to get myself out my shell even though I wasn't physically 100%. So, yeah, I'm pleased with the win today. No Grand Slam match is an easy feat.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You said you weren't feeling yourself physically. Could you just tell us a little bit more about that?

KATIE BOULTER: Honestly, I can't. I wish I could. I think it's just been cumulative over the last few weeks, maybe playing with a bit of an illness. I really expected to feel a bit better today walking on the court, but I wasn't fully there. Whether it was just a little bit of the conditions, a little bit of the last few weeks, I haven't quite got enough rest, I'm not entirely sure.

Yeah, I think the last couple of days I've been pretty tired, I think, going on the practice courts. So I think for me, my goal was just to go out and not overthink it, just try and play, almost forget that I wasn't feeling amazing, and try and do the best that I could with what I had on the moment.

But, yeah, I will be working on the rest thing.

Q. With all of that taken into consideration, how do you assess your performance out there?

KATIE BOULTER: I mean, taking all of that into consideration, I think, you know, ultimately only the players really know what it's like to consistently put their body on the line when they're not feeling amazing.

It's something I've done throughout my whole entire career, and I feel like the more I do it, the more I struggle with it, because I've pushed through so many different things that, you know, now when I don't feel 100%, I can be a little bit more grumpy than usual.

I mean, it's like when you go to work, and I'm sure you've all experienced it, you go to work and you're tired, but you still have to push through. Our job is so physical, and we need to be 100% to get the best out of our game.

Full credit to her. I mean, she's an unbelievable player. She's going to be a staple in the WTA, I'm sure of it. She's got a huge game and still very, very young. So a lot to learn.

But, yeah, I mean, for me it's not easy. I'm doing my best, yeah. It is what it is, but I'm happy with today ultimately. I got through, and sometimes, actually, that's what these matches are about. They're about mentally just trying to get over the line any way that you can and giving yourself the best chance to play better the next day, yeah.

Q. After the second set I think you went off court. I just wonder what did you do to reset in that moment, because, yeah, you lost a very tight second set, and there were things kind of moving against you, I guess?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think in the second I felt like I had chances to kind of run away with it a little bit, but I think she played some good tennis, and maybe I gave a little bit back to her in those moments, which were a frustration at the time.

But the reset for me was I changed my full clothes. Yeah, got rid of all the sweat that was piling up. But, yeah, I think it was just about getting my brain around the fact that I've got to go again. I've got to be prepared to play another hour. You know, I did that.

Q. The first time you came on my radar was 2018 when you wore the England shirt, made front page news. The World Cup is coming up next month. Are you going to be donning a Three Lions shirt?

KATIE BOULTER: I have already spoken to Nike, and my shirt is on the way (laughing), so whether it's the red one or the white one, I'm not sure yet. I told them to surprise me. We'll see which one they bring out, but I'm always supporting, of course.

Q. You're quite patriotic. Your family are as well, I presume?

KATIE BOULTER: Yes. I think from a young age it was instilled in me that anything to do with the Queen, the royal family, just being proud to be British, I think that was something I really took on at school.

Everything was celebrated. I think I remember a few street parties that, you know, our village had, and it was just a really nice way to get into the patriotic spirit I think, and it's something that I've taken very seriously from a very young age and then obviously getting the chance to represent Great Britain my very first time was when I was 7 years old in an under-9 tournament.

That little tiny tot has taken that passion all the way through to now. Yeah, it is one of my biggest drives and my biggest, yeah, proud moments, I think.

Q. No less to players in the squad Leicester?

KATIE BOULTER: Let's not talk about Leicester right now (smiling). I'm in a bad mood, so don't make me even worse. No, yeah, tough.

Q. Katie, there was a lot of noise coming from Lenglen, especially during that second set when the match finished. I'm sure that it's not the first time it's happened to you, but I just wonder how difficult is it to keep your concentration when there's music blaring and you can hear interviews and things like that?

KATIE BOULTER: No, it is actually something. It's funny because during a match, it came back to me, a match at the Olympics. I'm sure it was Paolini and Errani playing García and another French woman. I can't actually remember who she was playing with. But it was going nuts.

Actually, it was just across the road like literally the opposite court to where we were last time playing our doubles. So it took me back to that moment, actually, that I just felt there was such an atmosphere around.

I mean, of course, we want it to be blaring and so much noise and everything is going on, but actually sometimes it can be a little bit of a distraction. I do find there have been moments that I've kind of drifted off a little bit when I needed to probably zone in a little bit more.

But, yeah, I mean, it's part of the fun, isn't it? You're at a Grand Slam. It's what you expect. Yeah, I mean, it's great to see all the fans getting involved.

Q. Katie, do you know your draw? Do you want to know your draw?

KATIE BOULTER: I know who I play next.

Q. What do you make of that? Obviously a few weeks ago she was going down in the rankings, and now she's found a lot of form, picked up, and feeling good on the clay?

KATIE BOULTER: Look, I mean, her going down in the rankings, I know the kind of player she is. I know the level that she's got. I don't think necessarily her going down in the rankings necessarily shows me anything.

I think what she's done since the moment that she dropped outside 100 has been incredible. I think she's shown that her level is one of the best out there. I think she's a fighter. I've practiced with her a little bit. I don't know her incredibly well, but I know it's going to be an absolute battle.

I know she's going to bring her A game. I think she's got some form coming into it. She's won a lot of matches. I think she likes the clay a lot.

But, yeah, I think, look, ultimately for me my priority is sorting myself out. I've got doubles tomorrow, so I think tomorrow I'm just going to enjoy swinging with no pressure and just having fun with it and, yeah, preparing for a match on Thursday.