‘I’m outside. I’m going to hurt you’: Katie Boulter on the hidden horror of success as a female athlete

Britain’s leading female tennis star has had a standout 2024 but her higher profile has been accompanied by harassment

Katie Boulter has had 18 months to get used to being the British No 1. It has mostly been a time of great milestones and opportunities; from winning her first slew of titles, making her top-30 debut and gracing the cover of fashion magazines to feeling the love from her supporters in far-flung tournaments around the world.

The trade-off with becoming a well-known athlete has occasionally been startling though, including run-ins with a handful of depraved so-called fans. “People have followed me at times,” Boulter says. “I actually went to go and pick up Alex [de Minaur, her boyfriend and fellow tennis player] from Queens, and I had someone follow me in the car. We went to Sloane Square, got out, went for a walk around the shops and stuff and the same car was following me home. I was with Alex, so it was absolutely fine, but yeah, it wasn’t the best feeling.”

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