Burrowed away in the family album is a reminder of Gabriella Taylor’s first starry-eyed encounter with Wimbledon icons.
‘I was seven years old,’ she says with a grin. ‘I won a regional tournament and then a national event. The prize was an all-star event in Trafalgar Square. So there I was in front of the crowds, knocking it around with Boris Becker and Tim Henman.
‘I started [playing] when I was four years old at the local David Lloyd [Club]. My mum played tennis at university and my dad played squash so maybe there was something in the genes.
Gabriella Taylor is preparing to play in the women’s singles event at Wimbledon
Taylor has always had dreams of playing at SW19 and that dream is about to become reality
Taylor (pictured here at the Southsea Trophy in Portsmouth) will play Eugenie Bouchard
‘As a kid, I used to ski a lot, too. I was on the black piste when I was seven in the Bulgarian mountains. I know Novak Djokovic is a big skier too but I gave it up when I was 12 because the tennis became more serious. It would always be tennis for me.’
At 13 she left home to train in Marbella and, this week at Wimbledon, 20-year-old Taylor seeks to confirm her status as one of the breakthrough stars of British tennis.
Born to Bulgarian mother Milena and Geordie father Paul, Taylor, who grew up in Southampton, arrives at Wimbledon in splendid form.
Taylor took part in an exclusive photoshoot with Sportsmail photographer Graham Chadwick
The 20-year-old wants to confirm her status as one of the breakthrough stars of British tennis
Since she began training with coaches Xavier Budo and David Sunyer last autumn, her ranking has shot up from 323 to a peak of 168 and she has been handed a wildcard entry to Wimbledon.
‘Wimbledon is the most incredible tournament in the world,’ says Taylor. ‘It’s the tradition, the support, the atmosphere. Growing up, I loved watching Justine Henin. She was an all-rounder, very aggressive but also very smart. Since then, it’s been about Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams.
‘Serena’s grit on the court … she can be down on the score but never gives in. She has all my respect. It would be a dream to have her on the other side of the net. I can imagine being in a dressing room and asking her: “How do you do it?” I know the answer would be “believe in yourself” and “hard work”. To win Wimbledon is my lifelong dream. I do believe I will win it and that my time will come.’
Wimbledon is the place of her dreams but also the scene of her most profound struggle. In 2016, Taylor was struck down by illness in the quarter-finals of junior Wimbledon and was forced to retire in the second set.
Taylor’s ranking has shot up from 323 to a peak of 168 and has a wildcard for Wimbledon
But Taylor’s career took a bad turn when she diagnosed with having leptospirosis in 2016
She was admitted to Southampton General Hospital, where her health deteriorated and she remained in intensive care for several days. She was eventually diagnosed with leptospirosis and the unusual nature of the illness triggered a police investigation into a possible poisoning.
‘It has made me stronger and more determined but it really knocked me off my feet at the most important time. It was the most difficult moment of my career and it altered my mindset. It just made me focus on everything that is truly important,’ says Taylor.
Her mother, a dentist, joins her daughter and Sportsmail for a fashion-shoot at the Pennyhill Park Hotel. As the pair assess the selection of dresses and shoes, the bond between mother and daughter rapidly emerges.
Taylor believes her illness has made her stronger as a player on the court and a person off it
Taylor is in a good position to cause damage at SW19 and move even further up the rankings
‘Mum moved over with me to Spain. She home-schooled me; she has done her utmost to make me who I am. It took sheer determination and sacrifice to move with me. It was hard as a family to split but the hard work is paying off. Mum and Dad will be there at Wimbledon but Dad needs to sit still in the crowd! He can be up and down!’
She has also received support from Southampton and England footballer Ryan Bertrand, who has become a mentor for the young tennis player. ‘It has been incredible to get to know Ryan. He was exceptionally supportive, offering little details of advice, attending local tournaments and boosting my confidence. It is lovely to have good people around me.
‘Wimbledon is an amazing opportunity; my first Grand Slam on my favourite surface. There will be slight nerves but good nerves. To play in front of the home crowd, it could carry me along. Imagine looking up at the Royal Box … I’d love The Queen to come along.To win in front of The Queen would not be bad!’