'This is insane': Serena-inspired Grant makes her Wimbledon mark
Italy’s Tyra Grant is the latest aspiring star to post their first Grand Slam main draw match-win at Wimbledon after she defeated Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in the opening round at SW19.
World No. 172 Grant navigated three rounds of qualifying to take her place in the main draw and will now face Czechia’s Marie Bouzkova, who is ranked No. 23 in the WTA Rankings, for a place in round three.
“This is insane,” said Grant,. “This is my first time playing here since juniors and it was great. What was really good was that, immediately, I didn’t feel so much pressure. I was honestly more nervous in qualies.
“I felt I had the match in control. I was really confident closing it out. My first Grand Slam main draw match being against a home player, that’s not always easy, especially here at Wimbledon. But I really enjoyed it.”
Seven-time Wimbledon singles champion Serena Williams, who is making her return to Grand Slam action this week, is unsurprisingly a huge inspiration, while Grant sees elements of Serena's game within her own.
"Something that immediately pops the eye is how aggressive Serena is," added Grant. "Every match and every point depends on her. She's obviously a huge hitter, a huge server and a huge presence on court.
"That really inspired me. I see myself a lot in little things that she does. Again, I always try to dictate the point and always try to put pressure onto my opponent.
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"Growing up, I really looked up to her. Since I started playing, it was Serena, Serena, Serena, so I'm glad she's here. I'm also glad I could play so well today."
Grant has enjoyed success at Wimbledon previously having won the girls’ doubles here in 2024 alongside Iva Jovic. The pair also conquered all before them in the Australian Open girls’ doubles the same year.
That helped propel Grant to a career-high No. 2 in the World Tennis Tour girls’ rankings with her biggest singles titles coming at J300 level – at Santa Croce Sull’Arno in 2023 and Beaulieu-sur-Mer a year later.
Grant also experienced success in junior team competition and was part of the United States team crowned Billie Jean King Cup by Gainbridge Junior champions in 2023 and 2024. The United States are the current reigning champions having won four in a row.
The 18-year-old has progressed along the player pathway and has four World Tennis Tour titles to her name, including a career-best triumph at W75 Kosice on the clay courts of Slovakia in May.
Since competing for the United States at junior level, Grant has switched her principal allegiance to Italy – the nation of her birth. Grant was born in Rome to an Italian mother, Cinzia, and American father, Tyrone, who relocated there to play professional basketball.
Grant subsequently moved to Orlando to continue her development but is now recognised as Italian and was called up to Italy’s Billie Jean King Cup team for last year’s Finals as they claimed their second title in as many years.
Grant is building quite the resume.