Tennis Fans in Frenzy Over Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter’s US Open 2025 Mixed Doubles Snub
Tennis fans were sent into a frenzy following a “brutal” development at the **US Open 2025**, where **Alex de Minaur** and **Katie Boulter**, the engaged tennis power couple, were denied a wildcard entry into the revamped mixed doubles competition. Despite de Minaur’s public plea on social media for a spot—“Katie and I would like to ask for a WC pretty pretty please 🙏😢” (@alexdeminaur, August 28, 2025)—the US Open organizers rejected their request, prioritizing players with higher singles rankings and other wildcard pairings like **Carlos Alcaraz** with **Emma Raducanu** and **Venus Williams** with **Reilly Opelka** (au.news.yahoo.com,). The snub, announced on August 19, 2025, sparked outrage among fans who hoped to see the couple, who last played mixed doubles together at Wimbledon 2023, reunite on court. This article explores the controversy, fan reactions, and the couple’s US Open campaigns, as of 5:47 PM WAT, Saturday, August 30, 2025.
## The ‘Brutal’ Development: Mixed Doubles Snub
The US Open 2025 introduced a controversial change to its mixed doubles format, reducing the draw to 16 teams and prioritizing entries based on combined singles rankings for eight teams, with eight others selected via wildcards (au.news.yahoo.com,). This shift excluded lower-ranked doubles specialists, who rely on Grand Slam prize money, and surprisingly omitted de Minaur (world No. 6) and Boulter (No. 26), despite their high profiles and fan appeal (au.news.yahoo.com,). De Minaur, fresh off a Citi Open title, and Boulter, a two-time Nottingham Open champion, were vocal about their desire to compete, having previously delighted fans with their chemistry at Wimbledon 2023 and the United Cup (olympics.com,).
The decision drew sharp criticism on X, with fans labeling it “brutal” and “a disgrace.” One user, @TennisLover, posted, “How do you snub De Minaur and Boulter? They’re a fan favorite and would’ve brought so much buzz!” (). Another, @TheTennisLetter, noted, “While 2 places are still open in the new 16 team US Open mixed doubles event, it’s surprising not to see Alex De Minaur and Katie Boulter already in the lineup” (August 28, 2025). The rejection was particularly stinging as the couple’s engagement, announced in December 2024, had heightened anticipation for their on-court partnership (@atptour, August 26, 2025).
Fan Frenzy and Context
The fan outcry reflected de Minaur and Boulter’s status as tennis’s “It couple,” celebrated for their playful dynamic and mutual support (tatler.com,). Their relationship, public since March 2021, has been a media darling, with moments like Boulter watching de Minaur’s matches on TV while warming up at the Australian Open 2025 going viral (au.news.yahoo.com,). Their 2023 Wimbledon mixed doubles appearance was a “huge hit with the fans,” and Boulter hinted at a possible US Open reunion, saying, “You never know” on the Performance People Podcast (au.news.yahoo.com,). The snub thus felt like a missed opportunity to showcase their chemistry, especially after their joint title wins on the same day in March and June 2024 (au.sports.yahoo.com,).
The controversy was compounded by the tournament’s selection of high-profile singles players like Alcaraz (No. 2), Raducanu (No. 50), and Williams (unranked but a seven-time Grand Slam champion), which critics argued prioritized star power over doubles merit (dailymail.co.uk,). The $1 million prize for the 16-team event, starting August 26, 2025, added to the stakes, with fans on X like @DoublesFan lamenting, “This format screws over actual doubles players and now even De Minaur/Boulter can’t get in? Ridiculous” ().
De Minaur and Boulter’s US Open Campaigns
Despite the mixed doubles disappointment, both players are competing strongly in singles. De Minaur, seeded No. 8, reached the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over **Otto Virtanen** on August 29, 2025, and faces Novak Djokovic next, capitalizing on a favorable draw after upsets eliminated **Stefanos Tsitsipas, Karen Khachanov, and Francisco Cerundolo** (tennishead.net,). Boulter, seeded No. 26, advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over **Ajla Tomljanovic** but faces a tough challenge against **Jessica Pegula** on August 30, 2025 (usopen.org,). Their simultaneous success mirrors their 2024 achievements, when they won titles on the same day twice, cementing their “power couple” status (au.sports.yahoo.com,).
