British breakthrough star Katie Boulter urged to take her game to the next level

Anne Keothavong knows Katie Boulter has got her work cut out to make further progress at Wimbledon this year but feels the future is bright for the 21-year-old and her fellow young guns.

Five young British women were given wild cards this year, with Boulter and Katie Swan winning a match for the first time and Gabi Taylor, Katy Dunne and Harriet Dart all acquitting themselves well.

The quintet have made impressive strides this season, with Boulter, Dart, Taylor and now Swan all breaking into the top 200.

Fed Cup captain Keothavong gave Boulter her debut for Great Britain in February, and she told Press Association Sport: “The ability is there for all the girls and for Katie it’s all come together sooner.”

Former British number one Jeremy Bates is the coach guiding Boulter’s rapid rise.

Keothavong said: “Jeremy Bates has put a lot of work into her tennis and they’ve had that relationship for a number of years now. She’s got weapons. She’s got a good serve, she’s a tall girl, and if she serves really well she makes herself tough to break.

“She’s got big strikes from the back of the court and has a very good all-court game. There’s still a lot of work to do, most of all on her fitness, because she can play one great match, but whether she’s able to back it up day after day, and with training as well to get her to that next level, that’s the biggest question mark.”

Strength in depth has been an Achilles heel in the British game for decades but Keothavong knows firsthand how important domestic rivalry can be having been part of a strong group herself along with Elena Baltacha.

The 34-year-old said: “It’s very important. I remember back to when I played and there was myself, Bally, and when we were both able to crack the top 100, there was Katie O’Brien and Mel South who then were also able to do it.

“There was a small group of us who pushed each other on. And I see that potentially happening with the current group we have who are ranked between 100 and 200.

“I think, with a slightly different draw, we could have had more players through to the second round. I’m optimistic about British women’s tennis for the next few years.”

She might, though, want to bury the memory of the match she played in Birmingham last month against rising Japanese star Naomi Osaka, who is her opponent again on Thursday.

Boulter won only three games in a 46-minute demolition but Keothavong is confident she can fare better this time.

She said: “It’s a good thing they did play that match because Katie knows what to expect and it’s incredibly important for her to serve well. That’s something that’s in her control and hopefully the support of the crowd and the fact she’s been able to win her first match at Wimbledon will lift her confidence and she’ll go out and give it a good shot.”