ROLAND GARROS

May 22, 2026

Katie Boulter

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Katie, welcome back to Roland Garros. How's your preparation been? And what's your mood coming into the tournament?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, in general feeling pretty good. Got here on Wednesday. Been practicing ever since. Finally got rid of the flu that I had.

Yeah, I'm feeling great, feeling much better. Inspired to be here at Roland Garros.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Can you just tell us about Madrid, Venus Williams, how that came about? Are we going to see you two perhaps at Wimbledon next month?

KATIE BOULTER: That's a great question (smiling). I haven't made any plans or anything like that, but I mean, yeah, she's incredible. I had the best time ever playing. You can see why she's such an icon. I learnt so much from her just from being around here.

Yeah, I mean, I would always jump at the chance to play with her. You never know what could happen, but at the moment, my intentions are not to play doubles at Wimbledon.

Q. You mentioned the flu. Without too many gory details, did it set you back much? How did it affect you?

KATIE BOULTER: It was a tough one. It started in Rome. The first day that I played, I really didn't feel great that day. Obviously, you know, sometimes during the European swing there's some pretty tough weather. I think I was playing in the rain and in the cold, and I don't think that really helped me, so I took a few days then.

I went to Paris, and actually the exact same thing kind of ended up happening. I ended up playing in the cold and the rain. At that point, I kind of realized it wasn't the best place for me to be. It was better for me to be at home resting. So I took a few days off and got myself kind of back to normal again.

Yeah, took another couple of days off this week just to really make sure I got rid of it. It's been lingering a little bit too much than I would have liked. Yeah, just got rid of it, which is the most important thing. But I know it's going around, so, yeah that's part of it.

Q. Katie, you've mostly, touch wood, managed to stay free of injuries this year. Obviously we have seen quite a lot of the British players not able to play, for one reason or another. Do you think there's a reason why British players in particular have been affected this year? We talked to you, the LTA last month, and they were talking about changing their physio team, I think it was.

KATIE BOULTER: Okay.

Q. Do you feel like you get the support that you need on the physical side? Do you think the setup is right in terms of trying to ensure that British players will be as fit and healthy as they can be?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I mean, it's kind of a situation which no one can give you answers, right? I think everyone has their own individual issues. Everyone has, you know, bad timing. It may just be that everyone happens to be injured at the same time or something is going on.

I really don't know in terms of, you know, the setup at NTC. I don't use it myself. I have a full team that I now have separately from that. So it's been a long time since I've been within the physio setup, so I actually wasn't aware that they were changing.

I know they are adding people, as much as they can, to try and help, because I'm sure obviously a lot of people going in with injuries, they probably need a bit more attention now at this time of year, especially right before the grass as well. Everyone is trying to get back for it, which we all want to see them healthy and doing well.

But I don't necessarily think there's one reason for all. I think everyone's an individual case. Obviously we know Jack has been struggling for some time now, and we all kind of wish that he could get himself back quicker, but, I mean, there's no specific end to it.

Sonay, the same thing. I think it just seems to be that everything has happened at once. Yeah, I don't know of any specific reason. I mean, for me I take care of myself as much as I possibly can. I've been through my fair share of injuries.

I mean, hopefully it's time for me not to have a few injuries, so I can get a bit more momentum going forward. You know, I try really hard just to focus on myself. Obviously I wish everyone the best, but I have to take care of my own backyard a little bit.

Q. You touched on, I think in Madrid, how it was a bit funny that last year maybe your best part of the season was the clay, and it might not have felt that way in the past. When you come here now, does it feel completely different where it's not as much of a thing anymore, and you're not waiting for wins? Does it just feel like entering any other slam now?

KATIE BOULTER: It definitely feels way more comfortable. I wouldn't say that I'm necessarily there yet competing with the best in the world, but I do think that I believe I have a chance now against a lot of people.

I feel like every clay season that I keep playing and every time I sit in this room, it's like a little bit of a deja vu, because I feel like I say something similar each time where each year I'm improving. Whether it's the speed that it needs to be, we kind of find out each year, but I think my level has increased massively. I think I'm starting to understand the ways that I need to play on a clay court.

You know, every week is so different. Madrid, the ball was coming through so fast, and there's not much rhythm. Rome, the ball, you can barely make it over the service line it's so cold, and it's hard to get the ball to move. Then we come here again, and it's quite fast.

Actually getting a rhythm and continuing the work that I've done and trying to change the way that I play but not my identity is where I'm at with it. I'm trying really hard to improve each time I come back to that specific tournament, so I want to push on from last year Roland Garros and hopefully do better this year.

But, yeah, I mean, my game is in a good place. It feels like I'm improving, so hopefully results show the same thing.

Q. Katie, you'll be aware of the talk of boycott and protest that's gone on over the last week and the 15-minute protocol that's been in force today. Can you give us an idea of your own feelings about where the sport is in terms of players getting paid? I think Alex is signatory to the letters as well, so it would be interesting to know what conversations you've had, if any, at all?

KATIE BOULTER: Honestly, I don't necessarily know too much about it. I saw some things on Twitter about the 15-minute thing, but I haven't necessarily -- I don't know much about it myself.

I haven't gotten involved. I think I do live a little bit, like, under a brick. I think I try and keep myself away from everything going on.

So I'm sorry, but I don't know that much about it. I kind of have focused a little bit more on myself, not in a selfish way, but I feel like I haven't really been too involved.

I haven't spoken to Alex about it either. I'm not going to speak for him either. He can talk for himself. Yeah, I'm sorry I'm not more helpful.