“I believe anything is possible” – Katie Boulter on leading the team, playing doubles & title hopes at the Billie Jean King Cup
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British No.3 Katie Boulter is hoping to take the Lexus GB Billie Jean King Cup team to the next level this year as the squad head out to Shenzhen, China for the 2025 Finals.
Boulter has been an integral part of the squad that has reached the semi-finals twice in the last three tournaments and has recently jumped to second in the Billie Jean King Cup team rankings – but the three-time WTA titlist knows that there is more to come from this team.
The 28-year-old has always bought her best tennis when representing her country – winning 16/22 matches played for GB – and comes in as the most experienced member of Captain Anne Keothavong’s squad for Shenzhen.
We caught up with Boulter at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton prior to the of the Finals to discuss the challenge ahead and the team’s title ambitions.
“It feels weird when you say it out loud (being the most experienced member of the team) – I’ve never really thought about it,” Boulter said.
“I’ve played quite a few ties now – singles and doubles – been to a lot of different places and different formats. The more I play the more I cherish every time I go out – it’s not something that happens every single week.
“I do love playing for my country and I think it’s one of the biggest honours that you can possibly be given. I take that role with a lot of pride. Hopefully there will be many more ties.”
Last year, Boulter recorded impressive wins over Germany’s Laura Siegemund and Canada’s Leylah Fernandez to help the Brits into their second semi-final since 2022, but lost a tight singles rubber against Rebecca Sramkova in a 2-1 loss.
Heading into 2025, the Brits have a strong side aiming to make their first final since 1981, with three singles players ranked inside the top 100 in Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Francesca Jones, alongside a former WTA finalist in Jodie Burrage.
We’re going to put ourselves on the line and see what happens. I’m going to make a big push for it this year and I hope it makes the difference.
“We’re in the quarter-finals now – we only need three matches,” Boulter said when asked about the team’s title hopes this time around.
“I believe anything is possible. We have a really strong team, I think we have a good connection between all of us.
“We’re going to put ourselves on the line and see what happens. I’m going to make a big push for it this year and I hope it makes the difference.”
Boulter was an instrumental factor in Great Britain’s victories over Germany and Netherlands in the Qualifiers earlier this season.
In the deciding tie against Netherlands, Keothavong made a gutsy call to bring Boulter into the line-up for the final doubles rubber alongside Burrage just minutes after the Briton had lost in the singles.
Boulter repaid the faith and showed her skills on the doubles court as she helped secure a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Suzan Lamens and Demi Schuurs to book GB’s place in China.
Her performance on the doubles court has given the team another option heading into the Finals and Boulter has been putting in the work to give herself the best opportunity should she be called on again.
“That was a definite highlight of my year so far,” she said. “I think I’ve watched the highlights of that match eight or nine times I would say.
“It brings so many emotions, the way we did it and the trust the team put in us to get it over the line. I was coming off the back of losing the singles and only had a 15 minute turnaround which was difficult. To show face and lead the team made it sweeter in a way.
“I was really proud and had so many emotions doing it with one of my closest friends in Jodie. It was her first win for her country and it was truly special.
“I’ve tried to play a couple more (doubles) tournaments here or there to keep myself sharp and stay on top of what’s happening on the doubles court because it does change quite a lot.
“It’s been super fun – I got to play with Sonay (Kartal) for the first time at the US Open and we had a whale of a time. Hopefully I’ll get to play a few more ties.”
Boulter and the rest of the GB team will face Japan in the quarter-finals of the Billie Jean King Cup on Thursday 18 September. The tie will start from 10:00 UK time. Read our full preview
