London | Boulter and de Minaur are engaged

British No 1 Katie Boulter has become engaged to Australia’s No 1 Alex de Minaur, the couple announced on social media on Monday.

“We know we support each other. it’s such an important start to both of our years. We’re both going to do our part for our countries and then, at the end of the day, we’re still going to go home and be together and get through it together.” Katie Boulter

“We’ve been keeping a small secret,” Boulter wrote on Instagram alongside a photo of the couple enjoying the sunrise near de Minaur’s hometown of Alicante, Spain, the city he grew up in from the ages of 5-13 and is the Aussie’s European base.

Boulter showed off an impressive emerald cut diamond engagement ring.

The news had fellow players, friends and tennis fans alike sharing their congratulations, with Laura Robson declaring it the ‘best preseason news ever’.

Paula Badosa, Madison Keys and Denis Shapovalov, each of whom knows first-hand what it’s like to date a fellow tennis pro, were among the flood of well-wishers, with de Minaur’s fellow Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis even quipping: “It’s about damn time.”

Marta Kostyuk wrote, “YESSSSS!!! So happy for youuuu” and with WTA and ATP stars, from Emma Raducanu to Roberto Bautista Agut and more, joining in.

The pair fuelled engagement speculation earlier this week after Boulter posted a photo from the same location sitting in front of the sea in Alicante, Spain, as the sun set with the caption: “Today was a good day.”

Instagram

The couple’s relationship is understood to date back to 2020, and almost did get off the starting line after Boulter initially declined de Minaur’s invitation to coffee.

“That was tough to take,” 25-year old de Minaur told the Tennis Channel earlier this year. “But being the persistent person that I am, I asked again and she said ‘Maybe’. So we went with that, and here we are.”

de Minaur describes himself as ‘an honorary Brit’ and was vociferously supported during his run to the quarter-final at Wimbledon in July.

The couple’s engagement follows a 2024 season in which they both reached new heights on the court.

28-year old Boulter finished in the Top 25 of the PIF WTA Rankings for the first time, and de Minaur in the ATP’s Top 10, and with each crediting the other for their touring successes.

In the spring, the two famously lifted trophies on the same weekend with de Minaur winning in Acapulco for the second year in a row, and then flying to San Diego to watch Boulter capture her first WTA 500 trophy in San Diego.

Later, in June, they again lifted trophies on the same day, as the Aussie won in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the Brit on home soil in Nottingham.

Alex de Minaur of Team Australia and Katie Boulter of Team Great Britain shake hands before their match on Day 1 of the 2024 United Cup at RAC Arena in Perth a year ago

© Paul Kane/Getty Images

It is possible that the women’s World No 24 and the men’s World No 9, who have played mixed doubles together, could face each other across the net at the United Cup, which starts in Perth, Australia on Friday.

Hours after the big reveal, Boulter was on court with Jodie Burrage for Team GB’s first practice ahead of the United Cup, the mixed-gender tennis team event that kicks off the ATP and WTA seasons.

The happy couple will be rivals in Sydney after both their nations were drawn with Argentina in Group F, and will be on opposite sides of the net for the group’s final tie on New Year’s Day.

It is the second year in a row that Boulter and de Minaur have found themselves opposite each other at the United Cup, and after the Brits defeated the host Aussies 2-1 in last year’s pool, Boulter is hoping to keep a firm hold on household ‘bragging rights’.

“I wouldn’t say I was thrilled at the idea of playing him all over again,” Boulter told reporters after her first practice. “Obviously he’s a Top 10 player and he knows how to play tennis, so that’s one side of it.

“Then there’s the personal side of it as well, which is difficult but also great for bragging rights. I’m looking forward to the match. It’s going to be a great atmosphere. Obviously, playing Australia is always fun. It’s a great opportunity for us. We’re the underdogs, so let’s put the pressure on them.

“We like to throw some banter each other’s way. I think we handle it that way as opposed to any other way.

“We know we support each other. it’s such an important start to both of our years. We’re both going to do our part for our countries and then at the end of the day we’re still going to go home and be together and get through it together.”

Love matches are hardly uncommon in tennis, although the majority never reach the altar.

Other combinations that have gone on to ring wedding bells include Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf, Fabio Fognini and Flavia Pennetta, and most recently Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina.