Alex De Minaur And Katie Boulter Light Up Australian Open

Australian tennis fans are rallying behind Alex de Minaur as he carries the hopes of a nation into the Australian Open quarterfinals, but it’s not just his on-court performance that’s capturing headlines. The 26-year-old, currently seeded No. 6 and the last local contender remaining in the tournament, has found himself at the center of a lighthearted social media storm thanks to his fiancée, British tennis professional Katie Boulter.

De Minaur’s journey through the 2026 Australian Open has been impressive, marked by a dominant straight-sets victory over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik—6-4, 6-1, 6-1—on January 25. That win followed a gritty third-round triumph over American Frances Tiafoe, further fueling hopes that the New South Wales native could finally break through to a major semifinal on home soil, a feat he’s yet to achieve despite reaching the last eight at every other Grand Slam.

Yet, while his tennis has been rock solid, it’s a viral post-match interview with four-time major winner Jim Courier that’s truly set the internet alight. After his third-round win, Courier couldn’t resist teasing de Minaur about his upcoming wedding to Boulter, who herself had been knocked out of the women’s singles draw earlier in the week. “You’ve not been married. You don’t know. You’re about to become a 49% shareholder of a really great company,” Courier joked, drawing laughter from both the crowd and de Minaur himself.

De Minaur played along with the good-natured ribbing, replying, “Honestly, the fact that we’re both tennis players and we both have a busy schedule, we are doing as much as we can together. I’ve been involved so far with some of the decisions. I’m sure when it comes to the details of napkins and flowers and decoration purposes, that’s not my forte, I’ll leave that for Katie.” According to ESPN, de Minaur’s response was met with smiles and applause, showcasing the easy chemistry between the couple and their ability to laugh at themselves amid the pressure of Grand Slam competition.

The banter didn’t end there. De Minaur, ever the showman, signed a courtside camera with the cheeky “49%” as he left the court, a nod to Courier’s joke and a wink to Boulter, who was reportedly watching the match from a flight to London. Boulter, never one to miss a beat, fired back on social media the following day, captioning a photo of herself as the “51% shareholder” with a sly smile emoji. Her playful response quickly went viral, with fans and fellow players alike chiming in on the couple’s charming dynamic. “51% shareholder 😏,” Boulter wrote, cementing her status as the boss—at least in the eyes of tennis Twitter.

The couple’s relationship has been a recurring subplot throughout the tournament. Together for several years, de Minaur and Boulter announced their engagement in late 2024, with Boulter proudly displaying her ring on Instagram. Their wedding is slated for later in 2026, and while both maintain grueling schedules on the ATP and WTA tours, they’ve made it a priority to share as much of the planning as possible. “We’ve got a great relationship. She trusts me and trusts my judgement—at least, that’s what I believe!” de Minaur quipped in another interview with Jim Courier, adding, “We are doing as much as we can together.”

De Minaur’s willingness to poke fun at himself has only endeared him further to the Australian public. “No, it’s all chilled!” he insisted when asked if he was in hot water over the 49/51 debate. “She was telling me she was actually able to watch the match on the plane, so she’s a great one, and really good mate, sweet—don’t worry!” With Boulter’s early exit from the women’s draw, the spotlight has shifted almost entirely to de Minaur, but the British star has taken it all in stride, supporting her fiancé from afar while delighting fans with her wit and humor.

For Boulter, who reached a career-high ranking of No. 23 in November 2024, the Australian Open was another opportunity to test herself against the world’s best, even if it ended sooner than she’d hoped. Despite never advancing past the third round of a major, Boulter’s profile has risen steadily, both for her on-court prowess and her off-court charisma. As one commentator noted, “Boulter has been slaying her looks more than her game lately,” a nod to her fashion sense and growing influence as a tennis WAG (wives and girlfriends) icon.

Back on the court, de Minaur’s focus remains razor-sharp as he prepares for a blockbuster quarterfinal clash against top seed Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, January 27. The matchup promises fireworks, with de Minaur riding a wave of confidence after back-to-back strong performances. “Yeah, the last two matches I’ve played I’ve hit the ball really well, I’m super pleased with my level,” he said after dispatching Bublik. “I’m doing everything I want on the court and yeah, I’m excited for the next one. That’s going to be a big one. I’m going to have to come out here guns blazing and I’m excited for a battle against Carlitos.”

Australian fans are no strangers to heartbreak at their home Slam, but de Minaur’s resilience and positive attitude have reignited hopes of a deep run. The fact that he’s the lone Aussie left in the singles draw only adds to the sense of occasion. As one local journalist put it, “Too bad his fiancée, fellow tennis professional Katie Boulter from Great Britain, is stealing his spotlight, and that’s even after the 29 year old has been eliminated from the tournament on the women’s singles side.” The interplay between personal milestones and professional ambition has made de Minaur’s campaign one of the most compelling storylines of the 2026 Australian Open.

Off the court, the couple’s wedding plans have become a running joke, with Courier’s “49% shareholder” quip now immortalized on social media and in the minds of tennis fans everywhere. De Minaur, for his part, seems content to let Boulter take the lead on certain details, joking, “When it comes to details of like napkins and flowers and decoration purposes—that’s not my forte, I’ll leave that to Katie.” It’s a refreshingly honest admission from a player known for his work ethic and determination.

As the tournament heads into its decisive stages, all eyes will be on de Minaur as he looks to make history in front of his home crowd. With Boulter cheering him on—whether courtside or from halfway across the globe—the Aussie No. 1 is relishing both the challenge and the attention. And who knows? If he keeps this up, he might just convince Boulter to give him that extra 2%—but only time will tell.

For now, the Australian Open remains wide open, with de Minaur’s quarterfinal clash against Alcaraz looming large. One thing’s for sure: win or lose, the tennis world can’t get enough of this dynamic duo, both on and off the court.