Heartwarming moment Alex de Minaur’s mum breaks down in tears and hugs Katie Boulter – as Aussie star achieves huge career milestone

Alex de Minaur Reaches First Australian Open Quarter-Final in Emotional Victory

A heartfelt moment unfolded as Alex de Minaur secured a commanding 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over American Alex Michelsen, marking his first-ever quarter-final appearance at his home Grand Slam. The achievement sparked an emotional response from his family, particularly his mother, Esther, who was visibly overwhelmed by the milestone.

Michelsen fought hard to extend the match, pushing to break de Minaur at 5-3 in the third set. As tension built, Esther anxiously watched from the stands, especially when her son hit consecutive errors to fall behind 15-30. However, de Minaur regained control, forcing deuce and ultimately sealing the win in front of a roaring crowd of 14,820.

A Tearful Celebration with Family

As soon as the final point was won, scenes of pure joy erupted throughout the stadium. De Minaur’s mother, overcome with emotion, covered her eyes before rising to embrace his fiancée, British tennis star Katie Boulter, who sat just in front of her. The pair shared a heartfelt moment, exchanging words while the crowd continued to cheer the Aussie star’s triumph.

De Minaur, who has dropped only one set in the tournament so far, now faces an immense challenge against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals.

Engagement Boosts De Minaur’s Confidence

During his on-court interview, the Australian was asked whether his recent engagement to Boulter played a role in his impressive form. Smiling, he responded, “I don’t believe in coincidences, but when you’re happy off the court, you play some good tennis on the court.”

Their strong support for each other has been evident throughout the tournament. Earlier in the event, de Minaur rushed from Rod Laver Arena to Kia Arena to catch the end of Boulter’s first-round match, just as she was courtside for his victory over Francisco Cerundolo.

Chasing History

With a spot in the semi-finals at stake, de Minaur will battle Sinner in a highly anticipated clash on Wednesday. If he continues his dream run, he could become the first Australian man to lift the singles trophy at Melbourne Park in 49 years. The last to do so was Mark Edmondson in 1976, when the tournament was still held at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

Reflecting on his breakthrough, de Minaur acknowledged the significance of the moment:

“I’m super happy to finally break through and get this milestone moment here at the Australian Open. It felt like the slam that kept slipping away—I felt like I had a bit of a barrier at the fourth round. So to finally break through is really special.”

The world No. 8 has now reached quarter-finals at all four Grand Slams, having done so at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open in 2024. Despite his consistency, he has yet to progress beyond the last eight.

“For too long, I felt like I wasn’t performing on the bigger stages. If I wanted to be a top-10 player, I knew I had to improve in these moments. I’ve worked really hard to get here, and while it hasn’t happened overnight, I’m proud to be showing this level of consistency.”

Now, de Minaur sets his sights on making history—one step closer to a maiden Grand Slam title.