Katie Boulter has scaled new heights in tennis over the last couple of years and now she has revealed of her fiancé, Alex de Minaur, has been crucial in her development on and off the court.
Roll the clock back to April 2023 and Boulter was ranked outside of the top 250 in the women’s game, with the elegant British player struggling to breakthrough at the top of the game.
That was before she landed her first WTA Tour title at the Nottingham Open and by September of that year, she was knocking on the door of the top 50 of the WTA Rankings.
She has managed to maintain her position at the top of the women’s game over the last two years after winning her first WTA 500 title in San Diego and then successfully defending her title in Nottingham last June.
Boulter’s career has gone to new heights since she started dating top ten player De Minaur and she told us that the impact her fiancé has had on her life and career has been immense.
“Alex has been a huge influence on my journey,” Boulter told Tennis365 in her role as an ambassador for BRITA.
“His support, both emotionally and in terms of advice and perspective, has helped me grow, not just as a player, but as a person. Having someone in your corner who truly believes in you makes a big difference when you’re trying to push through tough moments.”
Boulter is playing in the brand new WTA 500 tournament at the Queen’s Club this week, with De Minaur in the stands to watch her win a tough opening match against Ajla Tomljanovic on Tuesday.
It revived memories of Boulter watching De Minaur playing in the men’s event at Queen’s Club, where he lost in the final against Carlos Alcaraz two years ago.
“I have such fond memories of watching him at Queen’s,” she continued. “I have my own connection to watching tennis at Queen’s with Alex playing and now he is watching me. It was a nice little role reversal and hopefully he can be there for many more of my matches.
“This is one of the most special times of the year for me. Playing in front of a home crowd brings a different kind of energy, there’s definitely some nerves, but mostly I feel excited and motivated. The support from the fans is something I never take for granted; it pushes me to give everything on court.”
Boulter is setting her sights high this summer, as she is targeting a seeding at Wimbledon and admits her biggest goal is landing the title at the All England Club.
The 28-year-old is close to securing a seeding for Wimbledon, which gets underway at the end of this month, and she admits that would boost her hopes.
“My dream would be to win a Grand Slam,” she told us. “It’s the pinnacle of our sport and something I’ve dreamed about since I was a kid. Not just for the trophy, but for what it represents, years of hard work, resilience, and the belief that anything is possible.
“I would love to be seeded for Wimbledon. It does make a difference in terms of ranking-wise who you play, but at the same time, it’s not my sole focus.
“I just want to build a bit of momentum coming into the grass season. I want to get as many matches under my belt before I get to Wimbledon, which is very important, which is why I have actually entered three tournaments before Wimbledon to see what I can get out of myself.”
Boulter prominence at the top of the British game has ensured she is attracting some big-name sponsors, with BRITA the latest to sign her up as a brand ambassador.
“Partnering with BRITA felt like a natural fit for me,” added Boulter. “Hydration is such a critical part of my routine both on and off the court, and BRITA’s commitment to encourage mindful choices that do better for your mind, body & planet aligns with my values. It’s great to work with a brand that not only supports performance but is also driving sustainable change in British Tennis.
At this level, even small margins make a huge difference. If I’m not properly hydrated, it affects my energy, focus, and recovery. Hydration helps me stay sharp mentally and physically throughout long matches, especially in tough conditions.