Katie Boulter, the leading British women’s singles tennis player, has opened up about her growing confidence on the court and the people who inspire her. “The more I play on bigger stages, the more I come out of my shell,” said the 28-year-old.

“I can be quite shy sometimes, but tennis gives me that outlet to really express how I feel and to show how tough I can be in big moments.”

The Leicester-born prodigy admitted: “And that gives me a lot of confidence and really pushes me to be the best version of myself.

Katie credited her family’s unwavering support as a vital catalyst for her achievements and her principal source of inspiration. “My family are my biggest inspiration in life and in tennis,” she told reporters.

“They have given everything to me throughout their lives.”

She also reflected on the joys of making her loved ones proud: “When they’re proud of me, I know that I’m motivated and doing the best that I possibly can.”

Katie has tennis prowess in her genes; her mother Sue Boulter was once a celebrated tennis coach who played at county level and for Great Britain as a junior.

Boulter didn’t stop there with her familial accolades, noting the significant influence of her maternal grandparents, Brian and Jill Gartshore, both passionate tennis enthusiasts. “My grandma was county captain for 20 years and my grandpa played tennis his whole entire life,” Boulter revealed.

“That’s actually how they met, so I’ve kind of grown up with tennis and them being a huge part of it.”

Jill passed away just two days before Boulter’s triumphant second round victory at Wimbledon in 2022, where she defeated the world’s number one seed at the time, Karolína Plíšková from the Czech Republic. Boulter spoke fondly of her grandparents’ unwavering support, which she believes was instrumental to her growth as an athlete.

“I was always very close to my grandparents growing up and was lucky to have them around all the time,” Boulter reminisced. “They were picking me up from tennis, taking me to school, along with my mum, and I would literally see them in the corner of the playground waving because they knew that was the time of my break. They were a huge part of my life.”

She also recalled spending significant time at the Leicestershire Lawn Tennis Club watching them play.

“They’d play fours and all have a nice cup of tea afterwards, and that was a huge part of their life, and just something they enjoyed, and it kept them competitive and active and healthy.”

Recognising the positive impact tennis had on her grandparents’ mental and physical health, Boulter recently attended a walking tennis session – facilitated by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) – at Sutton Tennis & Squash Club in South London. She interacted with Age UK service users, hitting some balls and witnessing firsthand the social benefits of walking tennis.

Boulter has spoken about the joy of using tennis as a means to connect with others and boost confidence, especially among the elderly. “It’s a good opportunity just to come and play tennis, do something fun and put a smile on someone’s face,” Boulter remarked.

She highlighted the social benefits of the sport, saying: “It’s a nice bonding tool to be able to play with someone or play doubles as it brings you closer to people.”

Boulter also touched on the positive impact of tennis on mental health: “And you know, it might give you a bit more confidence to leave the house, go and see your friends more and have a healthier lifestyle.”

Reflecting on her involvement with Age UK during the pandemic, Boulter shared: “The first time I started with Age UK, was around COVID time and I felt like it was a really good time to do it, because one, I had a bit of time, which normally I don’t have.

“And secondly, it was a really isolating time for everyone, you know, especially the elderly. They needed a little bit help, so I just wanted to give back and try and be a little bit of a comfort for them.”

For Boulter, this work is deeply personal, combining “two of my biggest passions, tennis and giving back to the elderly”.

Jemma Thornton, head of wellbeing services at Age UK Sutton, also commented on the initiative’s impact: “Part of our project is to reduce isolation and loneliness, and people have lost confidence from not going about and doing typical day-to-day things.

“So, to be able to come back out and do something that is accessible, that is low-key but also offers that element of social interaction all in one place is really beneficial.

“There is a very welcoming atmosphere in our groups that really helps people feel comfortable and just focus on the sport and feel those natural benefits of doing some sort of physical activity.”

For more information or to find an Age UK Walking Tennis session near you, visit the Age UK Walking Tennis programme website or dial 0800 169 65 65.