Katie Boulter breaks new ground at Wimbledon to oust 2021 finalist Pliskova

Before her bounteous grass-court summer began, Katie Boulter had not beaten a single top 40 player in her life. Her total record against top 50 opposition was 4-14, not where a player with such high aspirations would like to be, and in those big moments she was yet to truly fly. But still, throughout her career Boulter has always carried with her the reputation of a player who loves the grand occasions and thrives in the face of the toughest challenges.

On the biggest stage of all, Centre Court, Boulter’s reputation accorded with reality in spectacular fashion as she produced the biggest win of her career to upset Karolina Pliskova, the sixth seed and last year’s finalist, reaching a grand slam third round for the first time in her career with a 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-4 win.

“I got absolutely no words right now, I’m literally shaking,” said Boulter afterwards. “The crowd was unbelievable so thank you so much for getting me through that.”

Despite her speechlessness, Boulter had entered the match with palpable belief. After starting the grass court season by clinching her first ever top 40 win over No.35 Alison Riske, last week Boulter edged out Pliskova herself 6-4 in the third set for her first ever top 10 win.

Boulter is tall, 5’11, blessed with a solid first serve and a weighty forehand that she is constantly looking to dictate with. She knows that she has the weapons to pierce many defences and she started the match in blazing form, standing inside the baseline, searing forehands and establishing a 2-0 lead.

But she came back to earth quickly. The best players in the world prod at her weaknesses, exposing her movement and forcing her to reach for the ball where she is most uncomfortable. As Pliskova calmly played with