Alex de Minuar’s Girlfriend Katie Boulter opens up on scale of online abuse as British tennis star reveals threats and explicit messages ahead of Wimbledon
Katie Boulter Reveals Scale of Online Abuse and Threats Ahead of Wimbledon 2025
Katie Boulter, Britain’s No. 2 women’s tennis player and fiancée of Australian star Alex de Minaur, has spoken out about the severe online abuse she faces, including death threats and explicit messages, as she prepares for Wimbledon 2025 (June 30–July 13). In an interview with The Times on June 16, 2025, Boulter, ranked No. 24, detailed the “astronomical” harassment, often from bettors, that intensifies before major tournaments like Wimbledon, where she is seeded for the second time, per www.bbc.com and.
Nature and Impact of the Abuse
Boulter revealed receiving messages wishing her “to get cancer” or threatening her family, with abuse spiking after losses, such as her French Open 2025 third-round tie-break defeat to Bianca Andreescu (6-4, 4-6, 7-6(8)), per www.wtatennis.com. “It’s not just losing matches—it’s winning too,” she said, noting bettors’ frustration regardless of outcomes, per. Explicit messages and death threats have become so frequent that she limits social media access to protect her mental health, stating, “I don’t want to see what’s being said—it’s not worth it,” per www.theguardian.com. Boulter also referenced a 2024 stalking incident in London, where a car followed her and de Minaur from Queen’s Club to Sloane Square, heightening her safety concerns, per.[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-14172143/The-terrifying-ordeal-Alex-Minaur-tennis-star-girlfriend-Katie-Boulter-fearing-safety.html)[](https://x.com/ElijahKyama_/status/1934870295547871525)
Broader Context and Support
The abuse reflects a growing issue in tennis, with players like Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu also reporting similar harassment, per www.dailymail.co.uk. Boulter believes much of it stems from gambling, a sentiment echoed by X posts like @ElijahKyama_’s, which highlighted bettors’ role, per. De Minaur, ranked ATP No. 7, has been a pillar of support, offering perspective after her 2024 Wimbledon second-round loss to Harriet Dart (4-6, 6-1, 7-6(8)), telling her, “One match doesn’t define your career,” per. Their engagement, announced in December 2024, has strengthened their bond, with Boulter crediting de Minaur’s presence during the stalking incident for easing her fears, per.[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-13602247/Katie-Boulter-Alex-Minaur-boyfriend-loss-Wimbledon-Harriet-Dart.html)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/tennis/article-14172143/The-terrifying-ordeal-Alex-Minaur-tennis-star-girlfriend-Katie-Boulter-fearing-safety.html)[](https://x.com/ElijahKyama_/status/1934870638608498710)
**Wimbledon Preparation and Resilience**
Despite the challenges, Boulter remains focused on her grass-court campaign, having reached the Queen’s Club second round, where she lost to Andreescu 6-3, 6-4 on June 12, per www.lta.org.uk. Her 2024 season included a WTA 500 title in San Diego and a career-high No. 23 ranking, per. Boulter’s determination to compete at Wimbledon, where she and de Minaur reached the 2023 mixed doubles second round, is unwavering. “I’m not going to let these people stop me,” she told The Times, emphasizing her commitment to her career and upcoming wedding plans, per.[](https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4190424/boulter-de-minaur-announce-engagement-ahead-of-2025-season)[](https://www.tatler.com/article/katie-boutler-plans-wedding-alex-de-minaur-wimbledon)
Call for Action
Boulter’s openness has sparked calls for stronger social media protections, with X user @RonCashman advocating for mandatory non-anonymous accounts and hefty fines, per. The WTA’s partnership with Bet365 to monitor threats is ongoing, but Boulter noted progress is slow, per www.bbc.com. Her courage in speaking out, as praised by @HDewarSport, aims to inspire change, per.[
