Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur has secured a coveted spot in the Australian Open quarter-finals following an impressive victory over Alexander Bublik. The world number six is now set to face top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz in what promises to be a thrilling encounter at Melbourne Park.
A Playful Exchange About Wedding Plans
Following his match, veteran commentator Jim Courier couldn't resist steering the conversation toward De Minaur's personal life, specifically his engagement to British tennis ace Katie Boulter. Boulter, who suffered an early tournament exit against Belinda Bencic, was seen enthusiastically supporting her fiancé from the stands.
Courier humorously probed: "We all know how much you want the big wins, but you already locked in a huge win this year. You and your fiancée are getting married this year. Congratulations to you and Katie. How involved are you planning to be in this wedding planning or are you gonna leave it to Katie?"
In a light-hearted retort, De Minaur responded: "Are you doubting me, Jim?" to which Courier admitted: "I'm definitely doubting you." The commentator added: "You've not been married. You don't know. You're about to become a 49 per cent shareholder of a really great company."
Balancing Tennis Careers and Relationship
De Minaur offered insight into their collaborative approach to wedding planning, acknowledging the demands of their professional schedules. "Honestly, the fact that we're both tennis players and we've both got quite a busy schedule, we are doing as much as we can together," he explained. "Yeah, I've been involved so far in some of the decisions - I'm sure when it comes to details of like napkins and flowers and decoration purposes - that's not my forte, I'll leave that to Katie."
The tennis star also expressed empathy for Boulter's experience watching his matches, understanding the emotional toll it can take. "Yeah, more than anything, I'm probably thinking how much she must be hating me as she's watching the match and going through all those tough moments," he revealed.
Navigating the Challenges of Dual Careers
De Minaur has previously spoken candidly about the difficulties inherent in their relationship dynamic. Last year, he described the challenge of managing his own Wimbledon campaign while supporting Boulter after her second-round exit. "There's no real rule book that you can go on, but it's not ideal. It's not nice," he reflected at the time.
"I felt for Katie, and I've been in those positions myself. It's not easy by any means to, yeah, forget about it. It's something that kind of stays with you," De Minaur continued. "On my side, you know, there's obviously the part of doing my best to comfort her and try to be there for her the same way she is there for me through the good stuff and the bad stuff."
Maintaining Normalcy Amidst Professional Demands
The couple, who have been together since 2020 and announced their engagement in December 2024, have established a home together in London. De Minaur shared glimpses of their efforts to maintain a balanced life despite their rigorous tennis schedules.
"We try to keep things as normal as possible, and we prioritise each other's matches in the schedule," he explained. "So if, let's say, I've got a late one and she's got an early one the following day, I'll do my best to make sure that I get all my treatment done, everything done, and then basically just sneak into the room and try not to wake her up if she's sleeping."
Future Aspirations Beyond the Court
Looking ahead, De Minaur has contemplated the evolution of their lives together. In a recent interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, he touched upon future family plans. "I'm going to turn 27 next month, which is crazy to think about, and my life is going to keep on evolving," he said. "At some point, there is going to be a family and kids."
As De Minaur prepares for his quarter-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz at Rod Laver Arena, his relationship with Boulter continues to be a significant aspect of his journey both on and off the court. Their story represents a modern tennis partnership navigating the unique pressures of elite sport while building a life together.
