Katie Swan is determined to return to Wimbledon on ranking merit after overcoming serious injury to play the biggest match of her career in front of the Princess of Wales.
Following persistent back problems which threatened to cut short her playing days, Swan made the most of a wild card by becoming the best-performing Briton in the women’s singles.
The 27-year-old marked her first appearance at the All England Club for three years with an opening victory over Irina-Camelia Begu before suffering a 6-1 6-4 second-round defeat to 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Swan, who was unaware Kate was sitting alongside Sir Andy Murray to watch her Court One debut, hopes to continue her comeback by breaking into the top 100 for the first time.
In April 2025, eight months after her previous match, the current world number 196 returned with no ranking at a tournament in Egypt, starting again on the lowest rung of the professional ladder.
“It’s quite surreal to think I was playing on Court One today, and 14 months ago I was playing a 15K in Sharm El Sheikh,” said Swan. “I have come quite a long way.
“It’s been gradual and steady. That’s kind of the goal from here, to keep building my ranking week to week and my spot at these big tournaments.
“It’s not a given that I’ll get there, but if I keep putting in the work every day, keep believing in myself, I know that my level is good enough to reach that goal.”
Swan endured a nervy start and was already 3-0 down by the time Kate took her seat between Murray and former British number one Anne Keothavong.
“It’s probably a good thing I didn’t know (she was watching), otherwise I might have been a bit more nervous,” said Swan. “It’s incredible to know that she was watching me play.
“She’s such an inspiring person. I would love to meet her if possible one day, but to know that she even knows who I am is pretty cool.
“I wish I could have had a better result with her supporting me but it’s amazing to know that she was there.”
Roared on by the home crowd, the British number six eventually relaxed into the contest.
But amid some serving struggles she was unable to force a deciding set as two-time quarter-finalist Keys progressed to an all-American clash with last year’s runner-up Amanda Anisimova.
Swan said: “When I won a big point and the crowd went nuts, I haven’t experienced that kind of support before. It was amazing really to feel that for the first time.
“It’s completely different to playing on the court I was on the other day (Court 16). The crowd still erupts, but it’s on a much smaller scale.
“Those were different kinds of nerves out there today. I really just tried to embrace it and do the best that I could.”
