Katie Boulter and boyfriend Alex de Minaur prepare to take the US Open by storm with tennis power couple both gearing up for crucial games
- Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur have become a power couple in tennis
- Read more: Michelle and Barack watch Coco Gauff’s match at the US Open
They were known as the King and Queen of SW19 earlier this summer – and now Katie Boulter and her tennis player partner Alex de Minaur are due to take on the US Open.
One of the great British hopes for the New York tournament is Katie, the nation’s women’s No 1 and all eyes will be on the 26-year-old’s progress, along with that of her Australian boyfriend Alex – ranked No 17 in the world.
Both Katie and Alex, who have been dating since 2021, will be relying on each other to help maintain focus and discipline in what is one of the tennis calendars most glamorous events.
They wowed the tennis world at Wimbledon this year, where they played individually as well as teaming up for the double’s contest.
And as the US Open kicks off, the couple are due on court today – with Katie taking on unseeded Frenchwoman Diane Parry, while Alex will play Timofey Skatov.
They were known as the King and Queen of SW19 earlier this summer – and now Katie Boulter and her tennis player partner Alex de Minaur are due to take on the US Open (pictured at Wimbledon)
Both Katie and Alex, who have been dating since 2021, will be relying on each other to help maintain focus and discipline in what is one of the tennis calendars most glamorous events
A blossoming romance in the midst of fierce competition is as compelling a fairytale as any for this year’s edition of the Grand Slam.
There have been famous relationships in tennis before and still are, most notably Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi who have been married since 2001, but Boulter and De Minaur are the sport’s new ‘IT’ couple and there has been plenty of interest in them since they began dating two years ago.
British rising star Katie confirmed she was dating the top-ranked Australian tennis star early in 2021.
On International Women’s Day, Alex made it official with a gushing Instagram post, alongside a photo of the pair sharing a warm embrace.
‘Happy International Women’s Day! Specially to this one, I don’t mind you,’ he wrote.
Boulter commented ‘Guess you’re OK too’ with a love heart and kissing emoji.
Meanwhile the couple regularly share snaps from luxurious trips away and holidays together online.
As the US Open kicks off, the couple are due on court today – with Katie taking on unseeded Frenchwoman Diane Parry, while Alex will play Timofey Skatov
The couple have appeared more publicly together this summer, including at the Citi Taste of Tennis event in New York
Last year, Katie shared a post of the pair looking loved up as they attended Wimbledon, writing: ‘Favourite person. Favourite club.’
Earlier this summer, the power couple rented a house a stone’s throw from the All England Club while playing in Wimbledon with both families.
Boulter credited the familiarity and relaxing time helps her preparation.
‘We all get to spend a whole lot of time together,’ she said at the time. ‘I have the option of popping out when I want to – I know where the closest coffee shop is, where the stringers are – so this is a place I can call home.’
That familiarity and understanding of a fellow elite player in De Minaur no doubt helped Boulter deal with the inevitable ratcheting up of attention that has followed her over the past year.
The spotlight has been shining ever brighter given her scintillating form and emergence as a sponsor’s dream.
The couple, who have been dating since 2021, rented a property a stone’s throw from the All England Club during Wimbledon
She has deals with Nike, Wilson and Jaguar, appeared on the front cover of Tatler and had an photoshoot in Vogue, but she says she has not been paying attention to the added fame she has received in the last 12 months.
But they’ve been navigating the added scrutiny with ease and Boulter insists she prefers not to pay attention to what’s written.
‘I haven’t seen any of the newspapers,’ she previously revealed when asked about now being in the eye of the general public and not just tennis fans.
‘But I am here feeling very privileged. I have to get a job done and keep grounded. I need to work as much as possible to keep as ready as ever.
‘I wouldn’t say anything has changed (since being No 1). I love to have that feeling when the crowd is roaring and I appreciate it more than anything else on this planet, hopefully I can use that.
‘I have an incredible team, boyfriend and friends around me who are super level headed and keep me grounded.’
The British ace has gained plenty of attention – and sponsors – over the past year but is focusing on her tennis
Both Boulter and De Minaur regularly watch the other compete and don’t try to remain in the background when cheering on from the grandstands at tournaments.
De Minaur made headlines for his heart-warming demonstration of support for his partner at Wimbledon last year during her second-round victory over previous finalist Karolina Pliskova.
Buzzing in the aftermath of his own win over British hopeful Jack Draper, the 24-year-old heartthrob used a post-match interview to praise his girlfriend on live television.
‘Before we talk about my match, can we just talk about Katie Boulter today? I mean, she had a pretty good win herself,’ he told the BBC.
And Boulter caught the hearts of the nation at SW19 last year when she broke down in tears after her debut Centre Court victory, revealing her grandmother had died just two days previously.
As they both prepare to face off today, British No.1 Katie and her boyfriend Alex de Minaur can count on each other’s support
The strength of her relationship with De Minaur and the support from family helped her come through the ordeal to produce a stunning career display at Wimbledon.
Speaking afterwards she said: ‘I’ve got absolutely no words right now. The crowd was unbelievable, thank you so much for getting me through that.
‘I’m going to get emotional. My gran passed away two days ago so I’d just like to dedicate that to her today.
Boulter later praised her boyfriend’s unconditional encouragement in an interview with Tatler, explaining: ‘I couldn’t ask for any better, he’s the best support I’ve got.’
It’s evident that both consider the other part of their team, not just a separate identity that they can return home to in the evening, and why wouldn’t that be the case given the tennis knowledge and ambitions that both possess.
Boulter won her first WTA event at the Nottingham Open in June, beating fellow British hopeful Jodie Burrage before making the round of 32 at the Birmingham Classic and the Eastbourne International.
Meanwhile De Minaur made it to the final at Queen’s where he was eventually beaten in straight sets by men’s rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
But amidst the seriousness of maintaining a relationship that largely places such extensive geographical demands on both as they compete at international tournaments around the world, there is also a playful light-heartedness that shows they don’t take things too seriously.
When Boulter beat Burrage earlier this summer, De Minaur jokingly responded to a photograph of his girlfriend holding her trophy on Instagram, posting: ‘Not too sure what’s more impressive the title or the biceps’.
Meanwhile at Wimbledon, the couple even teamed up together on the court – playing in the mixed doubles pairings.
In July, Katie and Alex were seen out and about in Chelsea as they enjoyed some summer shopping.
Now they’re both due to play in New York at the US Open, where yesterday celebrities including Barack and Michelle Obama sat courtside to watch matches.
Anna Wintour, Alec Baldwin, Mike Tyson and Danny DeVito were also at the US open to watch Coco Gauff’s opening match last night.
Gauff did not disappoint, overcoming a difficult first set to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 and advance to the second round of the tournament.
The former First Lady also went to the court on Monday night to pay a rousing tribute to Billie Jean King marking the 50th anniversary of the US Open becoming the first Grand Slam tennis tournament to pay equal prize money to men and women.
Obama introduced the 79-year-old tennis legend by recalling how King, the U.S. Open champion in 1972, rallied her fellow women players to successfully threaten a boycott of the next year’s tournament unless women got the same pay as men.
King promised never to stop fighting to maintain that hard-won progress to cheers from the star-studded crowd.
Guaff, a 19-year-old from Florida, was able to meet the Obamas after her win over Laura Siegemund in a match that had grown contentious over Siegemund’s delay tactics between points.
During the match, the former President was all smiles as he donned a grey jacket and white button-down, while the former First Lady looked engrossed in the match in a black cover-up on top of a blue dress.
Wintour, a frequent attendee, wore her trademark sunglasses along with a floral red, blue and black shirt, while Alec Baldwin dressed in a suit and tie for the occasion alongside wife Hilaria Baldwin.
Source: Read Full Article