Wimbledon 2023: Katie Boulter befitting of British No1 status as she storms into third round

How apt it was that Katie Boulter bolted out of the blocks to bagel her opponent in a rampant first set in the beating sun on Court No12.

After just 18 minutes of this pulsating second-round tie, Boulter had broken twice, held twice, was 4-0 up and seemingly cruising into round three.

The British fans packed high into the stands must, at that point, have felt more than a little sorry for Victoriya Tomova, whose support seemed restricted to little more than her coach and her sister.

Boulter bageled Tomova, serving with great vigour and setting up the set point which she eventually won from with a delightful chip.

Immense pressure had been heaped on Boulter in the lead-up to this, her fifth, Wimbledon main draw appearance when she replaced Emma Raducanu as Britain’s new No1. But Boulter is embracing it with open arms, reaching the third round for the second year running.

The British wildcard beat Australia’s Daria Saville 7-6, 6-2 in a match marred by the second of yesterday’s two Just Stop Oil protests. But you felt as though it was time for the confetti to reappear as Boulter wrapped up the first set 6-0.

Tomova, the world No99, held serve and then managed to break Boulter to go 2-0 up early in the second set. What happened next was a mammoth game in which either player could have wrapped things up much earlier. It was a sign of Boulter’s newfound steel, though, that she broke back immediately.

What a set this was. Tomova showed guts to find winners when a game looked to have already beaten her. She was hitting better and her body language showed so. Boulter held strongly for 3-3, before an even stronger hold to love by Tomova — who then broke again and held for 6-3. Parity once more — Boulter’s bagel now a distant memory.

Yet Boulter, who will play the mixed doubles with her Aussie boyfriend Alex de Minaur, then showed her nerve and poise to win a strong service game to open the deciding set. It was the perfect start.

Throughout the third set, she didn’t give her Bulgarian opponent a prayer on serve. In the second game, two points in a row saw shots from Boulter slap the net and just creep over by mere inches. At the first, Tomova smacked a ball against the fabric at the back of the court in anguish. After the second, she was left glaring at her coach in disbelief, then grimacing wryly.

It was a game in which Tomova could not regain a positive mindset — Boulter breaking for 2-0. With another break soon to follow, Boulter was able to finish the job 6-0, 3-6, 6-3 to an almighty roar among the British majority watching on in the late-afternoon heat.

Elena Rybakina could be next up for Boulter, if the defending champions gets past Alize Cornet in round two.

With Jodie Burrage, Heather Watson, Katie Swan and Harriet Dart all having fallen early, Boulter is now flying the flag on her own in the women’s singles. She is fully befitting of her status British No1.