Alex de Minaur, the 26-year-old Aussie firecracker who’s just locked in his second straight Nitto ATP Finals berth, might’ve just earned himself a spot on the couch with fiancée Katie Boulter. Fresh off his clinical 6-2, 6-2 demolition of Karen Khachanov at the Rolex Paris Masters on October 30, 2025 – a win that clinched his Turin ticket and a guaranteed £252,000 payday – de Minaur couldn’t contain his glee during the on-court interview. When the implications hit, he blurted:
**“That’s actually confirmed? Geez… that feels amazing. That’s the best news I’ve got in a long, long time.”**
The crowd chuckled, but the real kicker came next:
**“Definitely up there with getting engaged to Katie… don’t tell her I said that!”**
Oof. With the 2025 ATP Finals boasting a record-breaking prize pot – including a whopping **£3.86 million** for an unbeaten champion (up from £4.42m total in 2024, but with the winner’s share ballooning thanks to PIF backing) – de Minaur’s “surprise” isn’t just qualification. It’s a potential life-changer: £252k for showing up, plus £302k per round-robin win, and escalating bonuses through the knockouts. Last year, he went winless in groups (0-3 vs. Sinner, Shelton, Rune), but this time? He’s vowing redemption, eyeing that top payout as fuel for a career-best season (55 wins, Washington 500 title, 300th career victory).
Boulter, still smarting from her tearful Hong Kong quarterfinal retirement on October 28 (slipping on a backhand vs. Yue Yuan, trailing 6-4, 1-0), was quick to fire back from her recovery spot. Reposting the clip on Instagram Stories with a couch emoji and her engagement ring sparkling:
**“Best news in a long time, huh? 😏 Enjoy Turin… from the spare room. 💍 > 🏆”**
The power couple – engaged since de Minaur’s sunrise beach proposal in Sydney last December 2024 – has built a fan-favorite dynamic on this exact banter. They’ve been inseparable since lockdown 2020 (when Boulter “playfully” ghosted his first coffee invite), sharing WTA/ATP triumphs like matching 500 titles in Acapulco/San Diego earlier this year and a Wimbledon mixed doubles run. But de Minaur’s quip? Peak Demon mischief, especially after he dedicated the win to her: **“This one’s for Katie. She’s been battling so much – we’ll get through it together.”**
#### The Stakes: From Group Fodder to Glory Hunter
De Minaur joins a loaded Turin field (November 9-16): Sinner (defending champ), Alcaraz, Zverev, Djokovic, Fritz, Shelton – with one spot left (Musetti or Auger-Aliassime?). He’s the second Aussie back-to-back qualifier since Hewitt (2002-03), but last year’s blank slate stings. Now, with Boulter targeting a Billie Jean King Cup return in Malaga (November 13-20), the timing’s poetic – or pressure-packed.
| Prize Breakdown | Amount | De Minaur’s 2024 Haul | Potential 2025 Upside |
|—————–|——–|———————–|———————–|
| **Participation** | £252,000 | £252,000 (0 wins) | Locked in |
| **Per Round-Robin Win** | £302,000 | £0 | Up to £906,000 (3 wins) |
| **Semi-Final** | £453,000 | N/A | +£201,000 |
| **Final** | £907,000 | N/A | +£454,000 |
| **Unbeaten Champion** | **£3.86m** | N/A | Full sweep glory |
Fans are lapping it up: X memes of de Minaur “trading vows for volleys” have gone viral, with one dubbing it “#BoulMinaurBanterLevelExpert.” Boulter’s no stranger to the jabs – she once trolled him into a Man United jersey (he’s a City blue) – but with wedding bells rumored for 2026, this could be the spark for some playful “make-up” in Turin.
De Minaur’s next? A Paris quarterfinal revenge vs. Alexander Bublik (November 1), avenging that five-set Roland Garros marathon. Win big there, and maybe – just maybe – he’ll sweeten the £3.86m pot with an apology diamond. For now, it’s all love, laughs, and a little loving shade. What’s the verdict: cheeky genius or marital minefield? #TeamBoulMinaur
