Katie Swan became the first British singles player to reach the second round at this year’s Wimbledon, but Katie Boulter fell to a disappointing defeat by a qualifier on day two.
Ten Britons lost on the opening day of their home major – the most at SW19 since daily records began in 2000.
But Swan, who considered retiring from tennis in 2024 because of a persistent back injury, avoided the same fate in her first Grand Slam appearance for three years with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu.
The 27-year-old threw herself to the ground as she celebrated the win – her first in the main draw of a major since she beat the same opponent at Wimbledon in 2018.
In an abysmal opening day for home hopes, 10 British players – including Cameron Norrie, the highest ranked Briton – quickly toppled out of the tournament.
There was further disappointment when Jack Draper announced his withdrawal 24 hours before his opening match because of injury.
That followed Emma Raducanu’s withdrawal on the eve of the Championships with a stress fracture in her right leg.
But Swan offered a glimmer of hope for British interest with a clinical serving performance on Court 16 that saw her win 88% of first-serve points.
She did not face a single break point until she was serving for the match, when it seemed as though the pressure would take a toll.
But Swan held her nerve and eventually sealed a hard-fought win on her fifth match point.
Her reward is a second-round meeting with either 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys or American qualifier Kayla Day.
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Boulter became the 11th British singles player to fall at the first hurdle at Wimbledon after losing to 6-2 6-4 to Italian teenager Tyra Caterina Grant.
It is the first time since 2017 that Boulter has lost in the opening round at Wimbledon, with this her first-ever loss to a qualifier at a Grand Slam tournament.
It comes just 18 days after she achieved the biggest win of her career by ranking, when she defeated world number two Elena Rybakina in a stunning performance at Queenâs.
Seeking to push back against unwanted history on court three, Boulter got off to the worst possible start as Grant, who had never contested a singles match on grass at any level prior to Wimbledon qualifying this year, went an early break up.
Boulter could not respond as the opening set slipped away and she was unable to recover from another setback early in the second.
The Briton did not force a single break point in the match, with Grant dropping just three points across her final four service games as she comfortably served out victory.
The 18-year-old Grant was making her Grand Slam main-draw debut after coming through qualifying.
Last year, 13 British players went out in round one. Not since 1988 have as many as 16 fallen at the first hurdle.
A total of nine British players are in action on day two at the All England Club.
Also on Tuesday, Jack Pinnington Jones returns to complete his match against American 28th seed Brandon Nakashima, trailing 6-3, 7-6(5), 4-3.
Eastbourne semi-finalist Toby Samuel faces 15th seed Jakub Mensik, while British number two Jan Choinski takes on Vit Kopriva.
Jacob Fearnley meets American Alex Michelsen, Arthur Fery faces Damir Dzumhur, Billy Harris is up against 19th seed Karen Khachanov, and Harry Wendelken comes up against Valentin Royer.
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