HSBC CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 12, 2026

Katie Boulter

Queens Club

Press Conference

K. BOULTER/E. Rybakina

7-5, 2-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. Katie, congratulations. Obviously match point, you know you've won, but did you ever feel for that match you were going to lose it, win it? What was the thought process? Quite a momentous result for you.

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think my goal today was to play better than I did last time in Wimbledon. I felt like I really let the occasion get to me that time, and I wanted to prove to myself and also to other people, as well, that I'm a better tennis player than that match.

That one scarred me a little bit, and I wanted to come out today and prove that I can swing and I can just go for it, because I didn't let myself go for it in the last one. I allowed her to play some of her best tennis. You know, she's No. 2 in the world for a reason. She's got incredible weapons. I just tried to keep it as close as possible.

Today it worked, so yeah, that was my plan going into it. Just commit, go for it, and use my own weapons.

Q. This was obviously your best win by ranking, but given everything, the atmosphere, where it was, is this the best win of your life, do you think?

KATIE BOULTER: I hope there's more to come.

Q. In your life so far.

KATIE BOULTER: So far? I think it's up there. It's definitely one of a few. I think the occasion, the place, the crowd, the moment against her, of course, as a champion, it definitely felt like I wanted to take it to her and test myself.

Yeah, I think I did an unbelievable job with that. I mean, I saved so many breakpoints, and I think that was a testament to how tough I wanted to be out there.

Q. From my perspective, at least, it feels like you have been building up to a result like this over the last few months, since February. Does it feel like that to you?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I mean, it definitely does. Look, you never know what you're going to get on the grass courts, right? You never know how you're going to start. I could have easily lost that first match to Leylah and be in Nottingham on the practice courts trying to get better.

Look, I gave myself a chance that day, and I rose to the occasion, and I allowed myself the chance to come out and play some really good stuff today. I mean, it's been a really long day. I can't forget that I played a great match this morning, as well. I think that was some of the better tennis I have played.

Obviously totally different matchup this evening. I do feel like I have been building for a while. I think sometimes it's just about the right moment and the right time. I think today was that moment.

Yeah, I'm very pleased with, you know, where I'm going and the progress that I'm making, but I want more. I'm not done yet, and no matter what happens this week, I'm still trying to build for the rest of the season. I want to get myself back to where I was before and also surpass that. I truly believe that I can do much more than that. Wins like today do help me believe in that.

Q. I know you probably may be thinking about getting some sleep right now, but given you have talked about overcoming some scars, given you've beaten one of the best grass court players in the world, how much of a boost can this give you for the grass court season, and especially Wimbledon?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, it's definitely going to give me a boost. I think today was a test, right? I mean, ultimately you have to beat the best to do well in the Grand Slams, and today was a great moment for me to remind myself that I'm right there and I can win these matches.

You know that sometimes it's not just reliant on draw or who you're praying. It is that I can beat those top players, and I think that's so important. Especially going into Wimbledon, knowing that I'm unseeded, I think, look, I may be wrong, but I don't think many people want to see my name next to theirs right now, but I want to keep building on that.

It's not just about one match. It's about the three I have done this week already, you know, playing some really good tennis. Yeah, I think that's just continual momentum that I want to keep using into the rest of the grass court season.

Q. Well done. Given that this week has been so much waiting around, and you come out this morning, really quick win, wait around a few more hours and cause a big upset in that manner, what does that say about you as a player and as a person?

KATIE BOULTER: Yeah, I think you saw a lot of tennis today. I mean, you saw me on Court 1, you saw me on center. You've seen completely different personalities.

I think this morning was about building from yesterday's match and trying to get some more reps on the court. I really felt like I came out of the blocks really quick, but then it was almost like I was playing against myself.

That in itself is a test. I handled that really well and gained a lot of confidence from it, and then I come out tonight, and ultimately, I'm the underdog. I've got nothing to lose.

You know, six hours in between, it's not easy to handle. It's not a rare occurrence -- sorry, it's a rare occurrence in tennis for that to happen. To play two matches in one day, as well, is very different. It's a different feel going out for the second match when you've already played an hour.

I think for me it proves to me that everything that I'm doing in the gym, everything that I'm doing on the court is in the right way. It means that, you know, I feel good going out, playing five sets of tennis, and I still feel like I can go and play more.

I think that's a great place to be in. Yeah, I mean, my goal now is to recover as much as I can and get myself ready for tomorrow, because I'm not done yet (smiling).

Q. What did you do then in between the matches? Are you a napper?

KATIE BOULTER: Oh, yeah. I'm a napper. I'm definitely a napper. I think I have started to find my rhythm a little bit with waiting around a bit more.

I think this year, and I could be wrong, maybe it's just a feeling that I have had, I have played a lot more later matches, so I have gotten into the routine of napping, getting my food, maybe some treatment. Yeah, just resting the mind a little bit, because I think it's easy to stay switched on, and that's when you can get quite tired.

But, yeah, I think the experience of the last few weeks playing late has been good for me.

Q. How long are those naps?

KATIE BOULTER: How long are they? I don't let myself go past 30 minutes. I try. I try and keep it under 30 if I can. The odd time I have snoozed, maybe done 40, but that's max (smiling).