Alex de Minaur joins Katie Boulter in sad development as worrying trend emerges for tennis couple
Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter Struggle Again at Same Tournament
Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter have once again faced disappointment at a tournament they played together, both making early exits at Indian Wells.
De Minaur and Boulter Bow Out Early
The couple, who rarely compete at the same location outside of Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events, had high hopes for a strong showing in California. However, both will leave feeling frustrated.
Boulter, returning from a foot injury that sidelined her since the Australian Open, fell in the second round to World No.7 Elena Rybakina. Meanwhile, De Minaur, ranked No.10, reached the fourth round before suffering a shock defeat to Francisco Cerundolo (No.25) in straight sets, marking another missed opportunity to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals.
A Worrying Dip in Form for De Minaur
De Minaur’s loss extends a recent decline in form, as he has slid from World No.6 to No.10 in just a few weeks. After a career-best Australian Open quarterfinal appearance and a Rotterdam final (losing to Carlos Alcaraz), his results have taken a turn.
His decision to skip defending his title at the Mexican Open, opting instead for tournaments in Doha and Dubai, backfired. He suffered early exits at both events, hurting his ranking and momentum. Some speculate the switch was also influenced by Boulter’s schedule, as she was set to compete in Doha and Dubai but withdrew due to injury.
Are High-Profile Tennis Relationships a Distraction?
The struggles of De Minaur and Boulter have sparked debate about how tennis couples handle competing at the same events. While Boulter has risen through the rankings, she has yet to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam. Notably, she is often seen supporting De Minaur from the stands, sometimes even when preparing for her own matches.
At the Australian Open, Jelena Dokic dismissed concerns that relationships negatively impact players. She pointed to De Minaur and Boulter as an example of a successful tennis couple, countering claims that Stefanos Tsitsipas’ relationship with Paula Badosa was affecting his performance.
“Alex and Katie have been together for years, and it’s worked out well for their tennis,” Dokic said. “They support each other, train together, and watch each other’s matches. I don’t think that’s why Alex has struggled on court.”
Still, until De Minaur and Boulter both achieve deep runs at the same tournament, questions will persist. They’ll have another shot soon, with the Miami Open, French Open, and Wimbledon approaching in 2025.
