NUTS & BOULTS

Oil right in end after crazy Katie day

- NEIL McLEMAN

BRITISH No.1 Katie Boulter overcame rain delays and a Just Stop Oil protest to be the sole home survivor in the women’s singles. 

Her first-round match against Daria Saville started under grey skies at 11am on Tuesday morning and ended nearly 30 hours later with a forehand swing volley winner in yesterday’s evening sunshine.

But not only the British weather interrupted this encounter. At the crucial stage of 2-4 to the Aussie in the first set tiebreak, an eco-protester ran on to the playing area and threw orange confetti and jigsaw pieces on to Court 18.

While Saville helped tidy up the mess during the eight-minute delay, Boulter stood on the sidelines and stayed in her zone draped in her towel before also picking up some pieces.

And when play resumed, the wildcard won the next nine points and dropped only two more games to win 7-6 6-2 – Britain’s only victory.