Katie Boulter begins her Wimbledon 2026 campaign on Tuesday morning against Italian Tyra Caterina Grant on Court 3 at 11am BST. The 29-year-old British number one has faced a challenging year but reached the semi-finals at Queen's Club earlier this month, where she lost to Donna Vekic in straight sets.
Health Battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Boulter has been open about her diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome, which she received in 2016. The condition forced her to take 12 months off from professional tennis. In 2018, she revealed that she “struggled to live her everyday life, let alone train.”
“I hope I encourage people to do sport, and for those who have similar conditions to me, inspire them. It can be a career for them. I hope they see what I've achieved and realise they can do it, or do whatever they want to - that they can achieve their dreams,” Boulter said.
By January 2021, she told the Guardian that she felt she had “officially conquered” the condition. “I'm still very careful with what I do,” she said. “There are certain exercises I've categorically ruled out. But in terms of chronic fatigue I now feel like I've officially conquered it. I am as strong as I have ever been physically. And mentally I feel like I'm in a great place after that very difficult time [in 2019]. It gives me a lot of faith I can get back to being No82 and then push on from there.”
Engagement to Alex de Minaur
Boulter is engaged to world number six Alex de Minaur, with the couple planning to marry later in 2026. They announced their engagement in December 2024. Boulter recalled their first meeting: “We bumped into each other at six in the morning and ended up getting a coffee. From that moment, I knew I was in it for the long haul.”
In early 2026, Boulter shared details about their wedding plans with The Telegraph. “I've not been a massive dreamer about my wedding. As long as my family are there, I'll be happy. I did sort of dream about a destination wedding. Having a place you can go back to that's your place. So it's possible it'll be in the middle of nowhere.”
De Minaur confirmed the wedding will not take place in Australia or the UK and that he is actively involved in planning. “This is a 50-50 relationship, so honestly, the fact that we're both tennis players [means] we are both doing as much as we can together. I have been making some of the decisions so far. But when it comes to the details like napkins and flowers, that's not my forte,” he said.
Combined Net Worth
The couple are one of tennis's most celebrated pairs, with a combined net worth estimated between $5 million and $6.5 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Wimbledon 2026 Context
Boulter's Wimbledon start comes amid a difficult period for British tennis at SW19. Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper both withdrew due to injury, and several other home players were eliminated on Monday. Boulter is hoping to carry the flag for Britain in their absence.
