Katie Boulter says being a tennis star undoubtedly has a detrimental facet to it because the three-time WTA champion is well-recognizable and as soon as even obtained a message from somebody telling her he was outdoors and ready for her to hurt her.
For the previous yr and a half, the world No. 24 has been the highest-ranked British feminine tennis participant. This yr, she loved her career-best season after touchdown two titles on the WTA 500 event in San Diego and likewise efficiently defending her trophy on the grass courts of Nottingham.
Nevertheless, not every thing has been good about Boulter’s rise and newfound fame. Throughout the ATP event on the Queen’s Membership – the place Alex de Minaur was enjoying – she went to choose up her Australian boyfriend when she realized that they have been being adopted by somebody. It was a scary expertise however thankfully it solely ended there.
“Folks have adopted me at occasions. I really went to go and choose up Alex from Queens, and I had somebody comply with me within the automobile. We went to Sloane Sq., obtained out, went for a stroll across the outlets and stuff and the identical automobile was following me house. I used to be with Alex, so it was completely high quality, however yeah, it wasn’t the perfect feeling,” Boulter advised The Guardian.
Boulter: Somebody close by messaged me threatening to harm me…
In every of the previous 4 years, the British tennis star competed on the WTA 250 event in Nottingham and received back-to-back titles there in 2023 and 2024. However whereas Nottingham has been her most profitable event, that was additionally the place the place she in all probability had probably the most horrifying expertise of her tennis profession.
Throughout certainly one of her campaigns in Nottingham. Boulter obtained a message from somebody who claimed he was close by and able to harm her. The 28-year-old immediately alerted the WTA, who did all the precise steps to assist the previous world No. 23.
Whereas revealing that story, the Briton famous that the WTA does an excellent job in terms of defending gamers.
“One time in Nottingham, I had somebody messaging me on social media saying: ‘I’m outdoors. I’m going to harm you when you come outdoors.’ Clearly I alerted the WTA, they usually discovered the man, who was really on web site. Issues like this occur on a regular basis. Clearly we’re very effectively protected, which makes you’re feeling protected. The WTA does an ideal job of being there for you with that. I do really feel like we’re protected as a lot as doable, which not less than places your thoughts relaxed somewhat bit,” Boulter shared.
Boulter reacts to Danielle Collins’ related story
In July, world No. 11 Collins claimed that there have been a number of situations throughout tournaments when she was being stalked by somebody. And realizing that somebody was in all probability following her with the intention of getting nearer to her was a scary realization for the 2022 Australian Open runner-up.
As a response, the 30-year-old grew to become very cautious and conscious of her environment at any time when at a apply courtroom or on web site of a event. Additionally, she determined to not submit a lot on social media as a result of she would not need somebody to know her actual location.
“I’ve needed to be very vigilant and cautious about how I conduct my life, to ensure I’m protected. I feel generally that has come throughout to followers as being withdrawn, distant, however the actuality is that generally I’ve needed to be extra cautious about what I say and do as a result of I don’t need sure individuals understanding the place I’m, what I’m doing or patterns in my day-to-day life,” Collins advised The Telegraph.
“That’s an vital factor to focus on, as a result of to different individuals it may be perceived as she doesn’t submit usually or she’s not very pleasant, she doesn’t work together with followers or different gamers. However it’s like, ‘No, I don’t appear to work together with different gamers as a result of I don’t need somebody who’s been stalking me to undergo who I’m mates with after which calling them at work – as a result of that’s occurred.'”
When requested concerning the Collins case, Boulter confirmed that stuff like that certainly occurs.
“It’s one thing that I’ve at all times considered. Us as girls, if we’re house alone at night time, generally we do take into consideration these issues,” the Briton stated.
A few years in the past – after Emma Raducanu received the US Open and made all of the headlines throughout British tabloids and papers – a stalker someway discovered the situation of her home and stalked the Briton for a while. Finally, he was caught by the authorities and given a five-year restraining order.
