Luke Littler, 18, cosies up to new girlfriend as darts star soaks in America ahead of US Darts Masters
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s No. 1 and World No. 8, returned to winning ways with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over compatriot Alexei Popyrin in a high-profile exhibition match at the Boodles event on June 26, 2025, a traditional pre-Wimbledon grass-court showcase held at a private club in Buckinghamshire, England. The win, reported by *PerthNow*, was a crucial confidence boost for de Minaur, nicknamed “Demon,” after a first-round loss to Jiří Lehečka (6-4, 6-2) at Queen’s Club, his only grass-court match before Wimbledon 2025, which starts June 30. De Minaur called the match “important,” emphasizing its role in sharpening his game, per *PerthNow*.[](https://perthnow.com.au/sport/tennis/demon-back-to-winning-ways-in-important-aussie-duel-c-19170590)
Despite the informal setting, with a crowd of about 2,000 more focused on hospitality than tennis, de Minaur treated the duel with Popyrin, Australia’s No. 2 and World No. 21, as a significant test. “It was a great hit-out. Playing Alexei is always tough—he’s got a big game, and I needed this to feel ready,” de Minaur said, per *PerthNow*. His speed and defensive prowess neutralized Popyrin’s powerful serve and forehand, securing the straight-sets win in under 90 minutes. The match marked a rare all-Aussie clash, part of a historic moment with 13 Australians in Wimbledon’s main draw—the most since 1995—per *Tennis Australia*.
De Minaur’s 2025 season (32-12) includes a Libema Open grass title and three Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2024, though a hip injury forced his Wimbledon withdrawal against Novak Djokovic last year. Popyrin, fresh off a Roland Garros fourth-round run, pushed de Minaur but couldn’t capitalize on break points, per *SMH*. Novak Djokovic, now coaching, predicted de Minaur could reach the Wimbledon quarterfinals again, praising his “brilliant” all-around game, per *Tennis.com*. Fans on X, like @AusTennisFan, echoed this, noting, “Demon’s back in form—Wimbledon’s looking good!”
With a tough Wimbledon draw potentially featuring Hubert Hurkacz in the second round and Jannik Sinner in the fourth, de Minaur’s Boodles win provides momentum, though his lack of competitive grass matches remains a concern, per *ABC News*. As part of Australia’s strongest Wimbledon contingent in decades, de Minaur’s performance signals his readiness to challenge for a deep run at SW19.
