Wild card Brit Boulter dedicates best win of her career to her gran who died two days ago as she dumps 6th seed Pliskova out of Wimbledon in epic three setter on Centre Court

By Paul Lagan at Centre Court, Wimbledon.

Boulter v Pliskova

3-6, 7-6, 6-4

Katie Boulter produced the performance of her career to dump sixth seed Karolina Pliskova out of Wimbledon in three pulsating sets then dedicated the victory to her gran who died two days ago.

The wildcard entry came from a set down to force a second set tie-break which she won, and then hold her nerve when it came to making the single break of the deciding set and then holding her serve to put her into the third round of Wimbledon for the first time.

She said: “I’m going to get so emotional. I’d like to dedicate it to her.

“I have absolutely no words right now. I am literally shaking.

“The crowd was unbelievable so thank you for getting me through that.”

It was an excellent start for the Leicestershire player, ranked 118 in the world as she took the opening game from Pliskova and then held her service game comfortably.

Some needless unforced errors by Boulter and some crisp forehands by Pliskova saw the number 6 seed win her first service game.

But parity was restored straightaway as Boulter was broken and Pliskova swiftly won her service to make it 3-2.

Boulter then lost here points in a row, before winning a challenge which would have seen her broken again.

As it was,  Boulter soon produced another unforced error to hand the game to Pliskova to tie a firm grip on the set.

A simple service hold saw Boulter serving to save the set, which she too held well.

There was minimal resistance from Boulter and the Czech polished off the game and set in 22 minutes.

The first three games went with service, with Boulter benefitting twice from Hawkeye challenges, the second, an ace.

Inexplicably Pliskova caved in on her serve giving Boulter a 3-1 lead. Boulter duly reciprocated handing the set back to service.

Neither player seemingly wanted to win the set, as Pliskova then lost her service to love.

And so it continued with Boulter failing to take advantage and losing her game again.

A service game was finally held by The Czech to bring the set to 4-4.

A comfortable hold of serve by Boulter, meant Pliskova was serving to save the set. Which she did.

Boulter raced to 40 love on her serve before almost being pegged back, but a loose forehand drive by Pliskova gave Boulter the game to make it 6-5.

It was quickly 6-6 and a tie-breaker.

Boulter took full advantage of a nervy Pliskova and lunched an assault on the breaker – going 4-0 up, before Pliskova recovered slightly to hold her two serves to bring it to 4-3.

Boulter kept her nerve and service to reach set point which she lost. But she won the nest to take the breaker and level the match. The opening four games of the final set went to serve with neither player even vaguely under threat.

Pliskova almost gave her serve away, but eventually prevailed as did Boulter straight after.

The dangerous seventh game of a set was successfully negotiated by Pliskova and the final, set edged to a conclusion.

A superb game by Boulter in the ninth game secured the first break of the set and put her a service game away from the third round for the first time.

At 30 30, she produced a wonder forehand down the line to make match point which she duly won.