Alex de Minaur’s cheeky dig after he and fiancee Katie Boulter overlooked for mixed doubles spot.
Alex de Minaur has taken a cheeky swipe at his US Open rivals as he awaits confirmation on whether he and fiancee Katie Boulter receive a wildcard mixed doubles entry.
A series of top-ranked stars from the singles discipline are all set to team up in the mixed doubles at the US Open in an new format that is bound to attract large crowds.
All but two players inside the top-10 in the men’s and women’s division will compete in the format, with world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz linking up Emma Raducanu.
Nick Kyrgios with take to the court alongside two-time US Open women’s singles winner Naomi Osaka, despite the Australian star remaining under an injury cloud.
However, a notable absence on the list is de Minaur, who admitted he and Boulter were planning on competing in the event.
“We’d be definitely asking for a wildcard, and we’re definitely hoping for a wildcard,” the world No.13 said.
“I think, why not give a little bit of love to a tennis couple?
“We have been going strong, it’s been five years already, getting married next year. I think we’re showing that there is good chemistry between us.
“I think some of the other partnerships, they haven’t really said a word to each other in their lives, right? At least we kind of know each other, so we can hopefully show some good chemistry and hopefully play some good matches there.”
De Minaur’s cheeky dig was proved correct by Jannik Sinner earlier this month after he revealed he and doubles partner Emma Navarro only met for the first time at Wimbledon.
“I just met her yesterday for the first time,” he said in the days prior to Wimbledon beginning.
‘We never talked. We never texted to each other. The tournament, they wanted us to kind of play together because certain teams were already set up.
“The choice was not big, but I’m very happy to play with Emma.”
While he waits for a wildcard, de Minaur will continue preparing for the US Open, which is set to begin on August 24.
