A breakthrough year for British number one Katie Boulter ended with heartwarming news when she announced her engagement to Alex De Minaur, the Australian world number 9.
“We’re keeping a little secret,” Boulter, 28, said in an Instagram post showing off her diamond ring.
The relationship reportedly dates back to 2020 and almost never left the starting line after Boulter initially declined De Minaur’s coffee invitation.
“It was hard to accept,” De Minaur told Tennis Channel earlier this year, “but being the persistent person that I am, I asked again and she said, ‘Maybe.’ opted for that, and here we are.
Love matches are not uncommon in tennis, although the majority never reach the altar. Other combinations that have made wedding bells ring include Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Fabio Fognini and Flavia Pennetta, and most recently Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina.
There’s also the romance that blossomed between Roger Federer and Miroslava “Mirka” Vavrinec at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Although Mirka is now better known as the power behind Federer’s throne, she was then a fringe member of the top 100 in the world who suffered a career-ending foot injury.
Boulter and De Minaur both end 2024 in their best position in the standings at this stage of the season (No. 24, in his case). Both have also won two titles this year, and they doubled at the beginning of March when she won San Diego and he won Acapulco the same weekend.
In his interview with Tennis Channel, shortly after this double triumph, De Minaur, 25, said that this relationship helped him develop a healthier attitude towards his daily work. “She kind of gave me a different perspective on how to evaluate results,” he said. “I used to live and die by the results, but now I’ve learned to enjoy the process and everything that comes with it. Thanks to her, I learned to better manage these losses.
However, New Year’s Day could throw a curveball when Great Britain takes on Australia in the United Cup team event. for the second year in a row.
Last year, Great Britain won both singles matches – Boulter beating Ajla Tomljanovic – which meant there was nothing on the rubber of the potentially decisive mixed doubles. De Minaur was left out of the Australian mixed doubles team anyway, but this year could be a different story when the teams meet in Sydney on January 1.
“I wouldn’t say I was thrilled at the prospect of playing him again,” Boulter said recently. “He’s top 10 and he knows how to play tennis, so there’s an aspect to that. Then there is the personal side, which is difficult but also allows for bragging. »
