Katie Boulter admits she ‘lost a lot of sleep’ at the prospect of facing her new fiance Alex De Minaur on court – as she leads Great Britain to quarter-finals of United Cup
Katie Boulter Leads Great Britain to United Cup Quarter-Finals Amid Engagement to Alex de Minaur
Katie Boulter has admitted to “losing a lot of sleep” over the prospect of facing her newly-engaged fiancé, Alex de Minaur, on court during the United Cup, as she secured a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory over Australia’s Olivia Gadecki to lead Great Britain into the quarter-finals. The British No. 1, who clinched GB’s progression with her straight-sets win in the Group F decider against hosts Australia on January 1, 2025, in Sydney, expressed relief at avoiding a mixed doubles matchup with de Minaur, Australia’s top player. GB advanced despite a 2-1 tie loss, topping the group and setting up a quarter-final against Poland.
The Match and Emotional Stakes
Boulter’s emphatic performance against world No. 97 Gadecki ensured GB’s spot with a straight-sets win from any rubber, sparing her the dreaded mixed doubles where she might have partnered Charles Broom against de Minaur and Ellen Perez. In her on-court interview, the 28-year-old laughed off the tension: “I feel like I’ve actually lost a lot of sleep recently over the thought of playing my fiance in doubles so I’m so tired and just very happy to get through this rubber.” De Minaur, watching courtside, later beat Billy Harris 6-2, 6-1 in men’s singles, but Australia was eliminated as GB advanced.
The couple, engaged since December 23, 2024, shared a pre-match kiss on the cheek, adding a personal layer to the international rivalry—GB vs. Australia in Group F for the second straight year. Boulter’s win followed GB’s earlier 3-0 triumph over Argentina, with Dan Evans and Neal Skupski contributing in doubles.
The Engagement: Tennis Power Couple
De Minaur proposed to Boulter in Alicante, Spain, with an emerald-cut diamond ring, announcing it on social media just before the United Cup. The pair, dating since 2020 after meeting at a hotel pre-pandemic, went Instagram official in 2021 and have supported each other’s breakthroughs—Boulter’s first WTA 500 title in Nottingham 2024 and de Minaur’s top-10 entry. Fellow pros like Emma Raducanu and Paula Badosa congratulated them, with Thanasi Kokkinakis joking, “It’s about damn time.”
They’ve navigated rivalries before, like de Minaur’s 2024 Wimbledon withdrawal before a potential quarter-final against Boulter due to hip injury. Boulter previously called the idea of facing him “not ideal,” adding emotional weight to their United Cup encounter.
GB’s Path Forward
Great Britain now faces Poland in the quarters on January 3, with Boulter (world No. 28) leading alongside Dan Evans and doubles pair Neal Skupski/Olivia Nicholls. Kazakhstan advanced to semis by beating defending champions Germany (without Alexander Zverev, sidelined by biceps injury). Boulter’s form—her first United Cup win—signals a strong start to 2025, blending personal joy with national pride.
Fans celebrated the couple’s dynamic on social media, with #BoulterDeMinaur trending: “Power couple goals—engaged and rivals? Iconic.” As Boulter eyes deeper runs, her “sleepless nights” averted, the tennis world watches this fairy-tale duo.
