Revealed: How Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter’s romance will probably be put to the take a look at simply weeks after they introduced their engagement
- Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur could face off next week in the United Cup
- The pair announced on Instagram that they were engaged on Monday afternoon
- The tennis power couple celebrated their fourth anniversary earlier this year
Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter announced their engagement on Monday, but in a couple of weeks’ time, they could be going head-to-head on the tennis court.
The pair beamed as they surprised their followers on Instagram on Monday announcing that they’d been ‘keeping a secret’ that the 25-year-old Aussie tennis star had popped the question.
It’s been a whirlwind year for both players who have enjoyed great success on both the ATP and WTA Tours, with the tennis power couple picking up two titles each, while De Minaur also clinched the Ultimate Tennis Championship in December.
But the pair will once again lock horns as Australia and Great Britain were drawn in the same group for the United Cup, which is set to start on December 27.
Great Britain and Australia are set to square off on the final day of the round robin, and there is every chance Boulter, 28, and De Minaur could square off against each other in the mixed doubles event, following the singles ties.
‘I wouldn’t say I was thrilled at the idea of playing him all over again,’ Boulter told Eurosport.
Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur took to Instagram to announce that they were engaged on Monday
On Tuesday, Boulter shared pictures of her and De Minaur while on a coastal walk following their engagement
But the tennis power couple could be set to go head-to-head at next week’s United Cup
‘He’s a top 10 player and he knows how to play tennis, so there’s one side of it. Then there’s the personal side of it which is difficult but also great for bragging rights.
‘I’m looking forward to the match, of course, and I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere.
‘Playing Australia is always going to be fun. It’s another opportunity for us. We’re definitely going to be the underdogs so let’s put pressure on them.’
It’s not the first time they’ve been on opposing sides at the tournament, with both being present in Great Britain and Australia’s sides for the 2024 iteration of the tournament, which saw Boulter and Cameron Norrie clinch victory for Team GB.
The pair did not meet on the court in last January’s doubles event, with Storm Hunter and Matt Ebden beating Boulter and Neal Skupski at the RAC Arena in Perth.
This year, Boulter will go up against Olivia Gadecki in the women’s singles clash, before De Minaur takes on Jack Draper in the men’s event.
De Minaur added: ‘It’s surreal. It’s a whole year later and here we are again – almost the same opponents.
‘It’s going to be interesting once again. Hopefully, we can play some good tennis.
Boulter admitted that she ‘wasn’t thrilled’ at the idea of taking on her new fiance next week
Australia and Great Britain squared off at the United Cup in 2024 but De Minaur and Boulter did not face each other in the mixed doubles
‘It’s not my ideal, but it is the luck of the draw.’
Many from the sporting world took to Instagram on Monday to congratulate the pair on their engagement, including British star Emma Raducanu and Aussie player Thanasi Kokkinakis, who joked it was ‘About damn time’.
Boulter and De Minaur are well known for turning out to support each other whenever they take to the court. The Australian notably rushed across Roland Garros following his first-round victory at the French Open this year against Alex Michelsen to watch Boulter in her late-night match against Paula Badosa.
While they will both be gunning to seal victory for their national sides next week, Boulter said that the pair enjoy a healthy rivalry.
‘We take it really well,’ she said of the rivalry.
‘We do like to throw some banter each other’s way, and I think we handle it that way rather than any other way.
‘We know we support each other. It’s such an important start to each other’s years and we’ll always do everything we can for our country.
‘At the end of the day, we’re still going to go home and be together and get through it together.’
The pair have been training together in Australia this week ahead of the Aussie summer swing
They are regularly seen at tournaments supporting one and other, with Boulter having spoken out on the touching advice her fiance gave to her after she crashed out of Wimbledon this year
She added that while they enjoy a healthy rivalry but said that bragging rights were on the line
Boulter added: ‘I don’t think he’s going to be out there cheering for me, but people may surprise you…’ She said smiling. ‘But hey, you never know.
‘Obviously, I’m always supporting him. I support what he does. In that match, it’s a very unique situation – something that I’m not used to.
‘We’ll try and handle it the best that we possibly can and I’ll be supporting him every single time from the box for the rest of the year so we will see what happens.’
While the pair will quickly re-focus their attention to the Australian Open later in January, Boulter said there will be plenty of bragging rights on the line.
‘I’ve seen the atmosphere it creates for him and I know how much he loves this court. He tells me all the time it’s his court,’ she said.
‘So if we can get a win over the Aussies, it’ll be my court.’
