Brit Katie Swan targets ‘amazing’ double by beating Yanina Wickmayer in Surbiton final

Katie Swan is targeting a significant double on Sunday at Surbiton – by seeking to claim a first career title on grass, and also snatching the British No 1 ranking for a first time.

The 24-year-old from Bristol was hugely impressive in giving up only a single game against fellow Brit Lily Miyazaki in an emphatic 6-1, 6-0 victory.

With Emma Raducanu recovering from wrist surgery, an off-colour Katie Boulter missed out on the chance of guaranteeing herself top spot by losing 6-3, 6-2 to Belgium’s Yanina Wickmayer.

However if Swan does not seize her opportunity in Sunday’s showpiece then world No 154 Boulter will still just cling on at the summit – also for the first time.

A delighted Swan said: ‘I didn’t even know the permutations before today. Getting to British No 1 would be an amazing achievement.

‘I would actually have liked Katie Boulter to have won that match for an all-British final and have a good battle, because she is one of my really good friends.

‘But I will take it – if I win the tournament and get to No 1, I don’t mind. Everyone is doing their best and I suspect that No1 spot is going to fluctuate quite a lot.

‘It feels great. I played probably one of the best matches of my career so far today and I am really excited to still be in the tournament and have a chance at the title tomorrow.

‘It is my biggest final that I have ever got to, so that’s exciting. And I am happy to have started off on the grass in such a strong way.

‘I don’t really know where it can take me, playing at that level I did today. But my goal is to produce that level day in and day out.

‘It is achievable thing to play like that more often, I have felt really confident this week and beating Tatjana Maria in the quarters was probably my best career result, even if not on paper.

‘Coming from a set down against last year’s Wimbledon semi-finalist…I took a lot of confidence from coming through that match, and I feel really good physically.

‘It is my first final on grass – I don’t think I had even made a quarter-final before on grass, so every result I have had this week has improved my best.’

And Boulter, 26, admitted that if Swan denied her by winning the title, it would be with her blessing and good wishes. 

She said: ‘Of course it is a disappointment not to set up an all-British final.

‘But if Katie wins the title to get the No1 spot – go on, girl. I want her to get that title tomorrow.

‘Look I would much rather be getting my ranking up than having that No1 spot.

‘Of course it’s a massive goal, but I wish all the girls the best of luck. I want us all to be getting better and better, and pushing ourselves.’