Katie Boulter ‘expecting an absolute battle’ in clash with Harriet Dart

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Katie Boulter is ready for a tough match against fellow British player Harriet Dart after she bounced back from a slow beginning to defeat former Wimbledon semi-finalist Tatjana Maria and arrange a match between two British players in the second round.

Boulter, ranked for the first time at the Championships, was losing 4-1 within fifteen minutes on Court Three, but displayed typical determination to come back and secure a 7-6 (6) 7-5 win in two hours and seven minutes.

Next up on Thursday, Boulter will face familiar opponent Dart in their eighth matchup. Boulter emerged victorious in their most recent meeting last month in Nottingham, securing her sixth win against the world number 100.

"Competing against a British player in the United Kingdom on the lawn is always a tough challenge and I anticipate a fierce fight," Boulter stated.

I believe we are both very familiar with each other's playing strategies by now.

I have competed in numerous matches, but I need to rely on my recent experiences with her to gain an edge in the upcoming round.

I believe it will be very challenging. I have a great deal of admiration for her skills on this type of court. It's a surface that she particularly excels on. This club holds a special place in her heart, as she has been a member since she was very young, coming here with her mother.

I am thrilled to have two British players showcasing their excellent tennis skills here. One of them is definitely going to challenge me and I will need to play my best to compete.

British player Dart said it would be wonderful if the second-round match could be played on one of the main courts.

Dart stated: "We are colleagues, we have competed in major tournaments, and we have developed together. We have a strong bond."

"Yeah, it's definitely challenging no matter who I'm up against, especially when it's a fellow British player. It's nice to see that we're all performing well and earning opportunities to face each other, hopefully in the later stages of tournaments."

She has been having a fantastic year. She has been performing excellently.

It would be amazing to have the chance to play on a grand court. Many players participate in this tournament repeatedly without ever getting the chance to play on such a legendary court.

When questioned about the possibility of playing on Centre Court, Boulter confessed, "I really have no idea."

"Yes, we will discover soon. It is not my decision. Let's wait and see what occurs. It should be an enjoyable game for all parties involved."

Boulter, who was a popular choice among fans, believed she could handle the stress of being the top British player and the 32nd seed at Wimbledon. However, she quickly lost a game in her opening match.

Maria, a seasoned player who excels on grass courts, dominated the early stages of the first set by winning 10 consecutive points. Within just 13 minutes, she had established a commanding 4-1 lead.

A long sixth game boosted Boulter's belief before a series of powerful forehands helped her regain the break.

The competition between Boulter's strong hits and Maria's precise touches led to many opportunities to break the opponent's serve. However, the first set ended in a tie-breaker, which was won by the 27-year-old player from Leicestershire after 56 minutes of intense play.

Maria, who unexpectedly made it to the semi-finals in SW19 two years ago, quickly took the lead at the beginning of the second round.

But Boulter, who was joined by her boyfriend Alex De Minaur after he won his first match, responded by breaking her opponent's serve. Another tie-break seemed imminent.

The player ranked 29th in the world had different plans, and a well-hit backhand winner on Boulter's initial match point allowed her to advance to the round of 16.