Katie Boulter's tearful confession after family tragedy at Wimbledon

British tennis sensation Katie Boulter has dedicated her comeback victory at Wimbledon to her late grandmother and thanked her Aussie boyfriend Alex de Minaur for the inspiration after setting Centre Court alight.

Boulter had Centre Court on their feet after coming from behind to win a thriller against last year's finalist Karolina Pliskova 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4.

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Following the exit of both Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray, Britain needed a star to rally behind and they found it in the battling and determined Boulter.

While Boulter was fierce and relentless as she was roared on by the crowd on Centre Court, the 25-year-old revealed she had a tragic motivation behind her performance.

In emotional scenes in front of an adoring crowd, Boulter broke down in tears after she revealed her grandmother had died just two days earlier.

"I'm going to get so emotional. I'd like to dedicate it to her," Boulter said.

The World No.118 exited Centre Court wiping away tears to a huge applause from the crowd.

Katie Boulter praises boyfriend Alex de Minaur

Boulter, whose progress has been hampered by a series of injuries, says she's taken heart and strength from de Minaur's work ethic as Australia's No.1 men's player ever since they started going out more than a year ago.

"He is the epitome of a fighter and someone that goes out and gives their all every single day. That's what I aspire to be like. He helps me do that. I'm a very lucky girl," Boulter said.

Not long after the match, the British sensation headed out to No.1 court to cheer de Minaur to a four-set victory over her British friend Jack Draper.

Elsewhere in the women's draw, the unstoppable Iga Swiatek overcame a brief interruption to her domination, actually losing a set before ousting Dutchwoman Lesley Pattinama Kerkhove 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 to extend her incredible winning streak to 37 in a row.

Another of the big guns, 2021 Roland Garros winner Barbora Krejcikova, the 13th seed, won back-to-back matches for the first time since the Australian Open as she beat Swiss Viktorija Golubic 6-3, 6-4 to set up a third-round contest with Australian No.1 Ajla Tomljanovic.

Simona Halep, the 2018 champion, sent veteran Kirsten Flipkens into retirement with an emotion-charged 7-5, 6-4 win over her Belgian buddy, while two-time winner Petra Kvitova beat Romanian Ana Bogdan 6-, 7-6 (7-5).

with AAP

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