Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur will be without the courtside support of his fiancée Katie Boulter for his crucial Australian Open quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night. The sixth seed secured his place in the last eight with a commanding straight-sets victory over Alexander Bublik, winning 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 in just over ninety minutes.
Boulter's Absence Explained
Boulter, who had been present for de Minaur's previous three matches at the tournament, was notably absent from the stands during his recent win. The British tennis player has returned to London ahead of her participation in the Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic, which begins next Monday. Currently ranked world number 113, Boulter's departure means she will also miss de Minaur's highly anticipated clash with Alcaraz.
In his post-match interview on Sunday night, de Minaur revealed to Jim Courier that Boulter was watching his match from a flight to London. "She's actually currently on a flight to London. She was telling me she was able to watch the match on a plane," de Minaur said.
Relationship in the Spotlight
The couple's relationship and upcoming wedding have become a popular topic of discussion throughout this year's Australian Open. Courier expressed concern that he might have overstepped during a previous interview, asking if everything was alright between them. "I hope I didn't get you in trouble, I feel like I overstepped my bounds," Courier remarked.
De Minaur quickly reassured him, stating, "In trouble? No it's all chill, we've got a great relationship. She trusts me and trusts my judgement, at least that's what I believe. We're good, don't worry." A relieved Courier responded that he felt much better after hearing this.
Wedding Planning Insights
The conversation about their relationship began after de Minaur's impressive third-round victory over Frances Tiafoe. Courier inquired about the upcoming wedding and de Minaur's involvement in the planning process. The Australian described it as a "50-50 relationship," prompting a humorous retort from Courier.
"You've not been married. You don't know. You're about to become a 49 per cent shareholder of a really great company," Courier joked. De Minaur then shared that he has been participating in some wedding decisions but will leave the finer details to Boulter.
"Honestly the fact that we're both tennis players and we both have a busy schedule, we are doing as much as we can together," he explained. "I've been involved so far with some of the decisions. I'm sure when it comes to the details of napkins and flowers and decoration purposes, that's not my forte, I'll leave that for Katie."
Career-Defining Match Ahead
De Minaur's quarter-final encounter with Alcaraz represents a significant moment in his professional career. In six previous grand slam quarter-finals, de Minaur has been defeated each time, including a loss to Jannik Sinner at last year's Australian Open. His record against Alcaraz is also challenging, with five losses in their previous meetings, the most recent being a straight-sets defeat at last year's ATP finals.
Despite these statistics, de Minaur expressed confidence in his current form. "I'm super pleased with my level," he said. "I feel like I'm doing everything I want on the court. I'm excited for the next one, that's going to be a big one. I'm going to have to come out here all guns blazing, and I'm excited for a battle against Carlos."
As de Minaur prepares for this critical match without Boulter's physical presence, his focus remains on delivering a standout performance against one of tennis's rising stars.
