‘That’s for my gran’: Tearful Boulter defeats Pliskova, advances to third round for first time

Wildcard Katie Boulter reached the third round of Wimbledon by edging out Czech Karolina Pliskova, the No 6 seed and last year’s runner-up, 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Thursday.

With her mother and grandfather looking on, a weeping Boulter said after the match that the family had just suffered a bereavement.

“My gran passed away two days ago, and I’d just like to dedicate that to her today,” she said.

She also thanked the crowd for their support on Centre Court, saying: “I’ve got absolutely no words right now. I’m literally shaking. The crowd was unbelievable – thank you so much for getting me through that.”

She added: “It’s a dream come true for me, I’ve hopefully got more matches to play. If I’ve got you guys behind me hopefully I can go a long way.”

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Tennis Majors

Boulter had already beaten Pliskova last week in the Eastbourne round of 32, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Boulter, ranked No 118, will play the winner of the match between Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo, the No 32 seed, and Frenchwoman Harmony Tan next.

Katie Boulter defeated Frenchwoman Clara Burel (7-5, 6-3) ahead of her victory.

In the previous round, Pliskova, ranked No 7, won against Tereza Martincova (7-6 (1), 7-5).

London (Grand Slam), other second-round results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 40.350.000, most recent results first):

• Coco Gauff vs. Mihaela Buzarnescu
• Kirsten Flipkens vs. Simona Halep
• Lauren Davis vs. Amanda Anisimova
• Iga Swiatek vs. Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove
• Magdalena Frech vs. Anna-Karolina Schmiedlova: thursday
• Petra Martic vs. Kristina Kucova: thursday
• Harriet Dart vs. Jessica Pegula: thursday
• Viktorija Golubic vs. Barbora Krejcikova: thursday
• Sara Sorribes Tormo vs. Harmony Tan: thursday
• Heather Watson beat Qiang Wang: 7-5, 6-4
• Elena Rybakina (17) beat Bianca Andreescu: 6-4, 7-6 (5)
• Elise Mertens (24) beat Panna Udvardy: 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5
• Qinwen Zheng beat Greet Minnen: 6-4, 6-1
• Petra Kvitova (25) beat Ana Bogdan: 6-1, 7-6 (5)
• Ajla Tomljanovic beat Catherine Harrison (Q): 6-2, 6-2
• Alize Cornet beat Claire Liu: 6-3, 6-3
• Paula Badosa (4) beat Irina Bara: 6-3, 6-2
• Kaja Juvan beat Dalma Galfi: 7-5, 6-3
• Ons Jabeur (3) beat Katarzyna Kawa (Q): 6-4, 6-0
• Maria Sakkari (5) beat Viktoriya Tomova: 6-4, 6-3
• Irina-Camelia Begu beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto: 6-4, 6-4
• Alison Riske (28) beat Maja Chwalinska (Q): 3-6, 6-1, 6-0
• Diane Parry beat Mai Hontama (Q): 6-3, 6-2
• Angelique Kerber (15) beat Magda Linette: 6-3, 6-3
• Caroline Garcia beat Emma Raducanu (10): 6-3, 6-3
• Marie Bouzkova beat Ann Li: 6-0, 6-3
• Jelena Ostapenko (12) beat Yanina Wickmayer (Q): 6-2, 6-2
• Tatjana Maria beat Sorana Cirstea (26): 6-3, 1-6, 7-5
• Jule Niemeier beat Anett Kontaveit (2): 6-4, 6-0
• Lesia Tsurenko beat Anhelina Kalinina (29): 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
• Shuai Zhang (33) beat Marta Kostyuk: 7-6 (6), 6-2