WATCH: Alex de Minaur in ‘trouble’ as his joke about girlfriend Katie Boulter’s weaknesses could backfire

Alex de Minaur made a rookie mistake during the United Cup press conference on Thursday and he was warned that his joke about girlfriend Katie Boulter could result in him having to sleep in a team-mate’s room.

Tennis stars Australian De Minaur and Great Britain’s Boulter have been dating since 2020 and, as luck would have it, their respective countries will square off in the upcoming United Cup as they have been drawn in Group C alongside the United States.

There was initially talk that the duo could face each other in the mixed doubles and Boulter made it clear during Great Britain’s press conference that she would not give an inch should she come up against De Minaur.

“I don’t know who is going to be playing for them. I think we’re going to be prepared for anything. We’ll see on the day who is better,” she said.

Asked if she would still want to win even if her boyfriend is on the other side of the net, she replied: “Yes, obviously. I want to win. I think whatever happens is going to be a great match.

“But, yeah, I’ll be playing completely seriously. Whoever plays with me, I’m sure will be working as hard as they can to get a win, just like I will be.”

It later emerged that De Minaur won’t be playing in the mixed doubles as Australia have opted for a Storm Hunter-Matthew Ebden partnership.

However, De Minaur insisted that if he was to face his girlfriend Boulter, he would be going all out and attack her weaknesses.

“You never know until you sign on the dotted line. Mixed could be an option, I have played mixed in the past… with Katie. So I know all her weaknesses,” he said.

“I’ve seen enough of her matches to know the spots to be attacking. If we step out onto the court it will be all businesses.”

And then his Australian team-mate John Millman piped up with a classic reply.

“My missus doesn’t have any weaknesses… it’s pretty brave of you to say that. You’re in trouble. He might be sleeping on the pull-out in my room tonight,” he joked.

Australia and Great Britain will face each other on December 29 in the United Cup in Perth with De Minaur taking on British No 1 Cameron Norrie in the men’s singles while Boulter will face Ajla Tomljanović. Hunter and Ebden will team up in the mixed doubles against Boulter and Neal Skupski.