Mum captured in viral moment as Alex de Minaur spills $665,000 detail about fiancee Katie Boulter
Usually, it’s fiancée Katie Boulter who grabs the spotlight in Alex de Minaur’s player box at the Australian Open. However, on Monday night, it was his mother, Esther, who stole the show in a viral moment.
Esther was seen bursting into tears after her son advanced to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time in his career, securing a blockbuster match against World No.1 Jannik Sinner. De Minaur’s mother was spotted sobbing in her husband’s arms before sharing a heartfelt moment with Boulter, seated just in front of her.
Esther’s emotional reaction quickly went viral on social media. One user wrote, “When you become a parent, your heart walks outside your body for the first time. It’s a vulnerability only other parents will understand. Well done mum.” Another added, “This is what tennis is all about. Moments like these.”
Alex de Minaur’s humorous wedding confession
De Minaur’s 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 victory over rising American Alex Michelsen made him the first Australian man to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open since Nick Kyrgios in 2015. He also became the first Australian to make four consecutive Grand Slam quarter-finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005, when Hewitt reached the final at Melbourne Park.
Speaking to Eurosport after the match, de Minaur joked about feeling pressure to win as much prize money as possible to pay for his upcoming wedding with Boulter. “When I’m on the court, and you see me stressed, I’m just thinking about the wedding budget,” he said. “I need to win more money, win more matches—that’s all that’s going through my head. Now you know what’s happening in my mind.”
The quarter-final prize is a cool $665,000, which may relieve de Minaur’s wedding budget concerns. If he manages to pull off an upset and defeat Sinner on Wednesday, his winnings will jump to $1.1 million.
A tough challenge against Jannik Sinner
De Minaur’s hopes of reaching his first Grand Slam semi-final face a major challenge as he prepares to play Sinner. The Aussie has a tough 0-9 career record against the World No.1, including three losses to him in 2024.
In their nine encounters, de Minaur has only taken one set off Sinner, back in 2020 during a tiebreaker. Last year, Sinner defeated him in straight sets in the Rotterdam final, ATP Finals, and Davis Cup semi-final.
Jannik Sinner’s physical struggles
However, de Minaur might have a glimmer of hope, as Sinner appeared to be struggling physically during his match against Holger Rune. The Italian star was seen shaking uncontrollably and had to take a medical timeout.
Sinner later admitted he wasn’t feeling well and could barely warm up before the match. “I don’t want to go into too much detail, but I wasn’t feeling great today,” Sinner revealed after his 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 win. “I struggled physically, and I knew it was going to be tough not just against a strong opponent but also against myself. I felt a bit dizzy at times.”
