Two British women bowed out of The Championships in dramatic fashion on Thursday
Katie Boulter was defeated by compatriot Harriet Dart, while Lily Miyazaki fell to No 14 seed Daria Kasatkina, who advanced to the Last 32.
“One match doesn’t define my career. That’s the first thing he [Alex de Minaur] said to me when I got off the court,” said Katie Boulter after her loss. Boulter acknowledged de Minaur’s support and experience in tough moments.
Day 4 at Wimbledon started off poorly for Miyazaki, who was handed a double bagel by Kasatkina in just 50 minutes on Court 18. Wild-carded into the main draw, Miyazaki struggled to find her rhythm, making 31 unforced errors and ultimately falling to the more experienced Kasatkina.
Later on No 1 Court, Katie Boulter, the British No 1 and 32nd seed, faced off against Dart in a tense battle. The match lasted nearly three hours and ended with Dart emerging victorious after an intense final set tiebreak.
The emotional match was shown live on both BBC One and BBC Two simultaneously, showcasing the intense rivalry between the two British players.
Despite the loss, Boulter graciously acknowledged Dart’s victory and expressed her gratitude for the support she received. Dart, on the other hand, was thrilled to advance to the Last 32, where she will face Wang Xinyu.
As the day progressed, more British women took to the courts, with mixed results in the Ladies’ Doubles competition. Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova scored an upset win over the No 6 seeds, while other British pairs faced tough losses.
In a poignant moment, Tara Moore made her return to doubles action alongside Sarah Beth Grey, after a challenging period of suspension due to a positive drugs test that was later proven to be caused by contaminated meat. Moore’s emotional comeback marked a significant milestone in her career.
