There was a time when British tennis star Katie Boulter and her Australian boyfriend Alex de Minaur were hiding their blissful relationship by eating breakfast on separate tables.
But four years after their romance started over a 6am cup of coffee, Boulter and de Minaur are the power couple of world tennis who will both be bidding for Wimbledon glory when the clocks strikes 11am in SW19 tomorrow morning.
The lovebirds will be supporting one another before and after their respective games, but a last-minute switch in the schedule has left them unable to watch each other as they are playing at the exact same time.
British No 1 Boulter will be facing Tatjana Maria, while ninth seed de Minaur will come up against in-form Australian compatriot James Duckworth.
De Minaur had originally been pitted against unpredictable player Corentin Moutet – but the Frenchman withdrew from the Championships with a wrist injury.
Boulter, 27, and de Minaur, 25, will both be hoping to make their mark at this year’s Wimbledon championships. They could also team up for the mixed doubles as they did last year, but the draw will not be completed until Wednesday.
Katie Boulter posted this picture of her and Alex de Minaur to celebrate their four-year anniversary. She joked that they weren’t engaged because of the big ring she was wearing
Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur are the lovebirds taking tennis by storm (pictured above at Wimbledon last year)
The couple are pictured at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid in April
Boulter rose up the ranks to Britain’s No 1 after claiming her first WTA title following a Brit-on-Brit clash against Jodie Burrage in the final of the Nottingham Open last June.
The ever-supportive de Minaur gave an insight into the pair’s jokey relationship as he commented on a photo of Boulter holding the trophy, writing: ‘Not too sure what’s more impressive the title or the biceps’.
The athletic duo recently celebrated their fourth anniversary in March, with Boulter posting a sweet photo of them with the caption: ‘4 years with you (calm down not engaged… just the only finger that ring fits)’.
In an interview in June, they told how their romance had started and were equally gushing over one another ahead of a summer on tennis’ biggest stage.
‘We bumped into each other at six in the morning and ended up getting a coffee. From that moment, I knew I was in it for the long haul,’ Boulter told The Age.
‘Growing up, I was always super-close to my grandpa: I always said to myself that if I can find someone who has half his heart, I’ll be the luckiest woman in the world. I’ve found that person in Alex.
‘He puts me before himself all the time and takes care of the people around him – his family and his team. He’s my best example of what I want to be.’
De Minaur, who will compete for Australia at the Paris Olympics after Wimbledon, was equally complimentary about Boulter, admitting it is ‘just a joy to be around her’ and he deeply admires her upbeat nature.
The couple had more reason to celebrate in March too, when Boulter won her second title in San Diego after beating Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk. That came after de Minaur won a trophy of his own in Acapulco – and even skipped an after-party to make it to his girlfriend’s final.
Both have reached new career high rankings, claiming they have learnt from each other
Boulter, who is 27, admires her partner’s temperament and professionalism on the court
De Minaur and Boulter have been together for four years now, having warmed to each other over a cup of coffee
De Minaur has thanked Boulter for giving him perspective on wins and loses on the court
Boulter paid tribute to him afterwards, telling the media: ‘I want to say a small special thank you to my boyfriend. He finished last night at midnight and I really want to embarrass him. He got on a 4.15am taxi this morning and 6am flight to be here today, so I do appreciate it.
‘He had an incredible week himself. What he did was insane – back to back titles in a 500, that’s what I aspire to.’
Both Boulter and de Minaur have reasonably strong chances to go deep into the competition and will be relying on each other to help maintain focus and discipline in what is one of the tennis’ most glamorous events.
The couple confirmed their relationship officially in 2021, as de Minaur made it official with a gushing Instagram post, alongside a photo of the pair sharing a warm embrace.
‘Happy International Women’s Day! Specially to this one, I don’t mind you,’ he wrote. Boulter commented ‘Guess you’re OK too’ with a love heart and kissing emoji.
But before that, they have revealed how they initially hid their sweet romance from fellow tennis stars.
In a video for Tennis TV in April, Boulter said: ‘Remember that time when we were having breakfast on like separate tables?’
There was a time, as their relationship was starting, when one would head down for breakfast at tournaments 10 minutes before the other and they would sit at different tables
The spotlight will be at its fiercest this week, when they arrive at Wimbledon, where there was relentless focus last year
De Minaur responded: ‘That was the early stages. We would rock down to breakfast at different times.’
Boulter then confirmed it was often ‘different times, like 10 minutes later.’
De Minaur – clearly loving the trip down memory lane – added it was a deliberate ploy to ‘avoid speculation’ to which his girlfriend responded: ‘It’s so true, so people wouldn’t find out.’
The Aussie then could be seeing laughing before cheekily adding: ‘Works every time.’
The couple regularly share snaps from luxurious trips away and holidays together online.
Last night, Boulter also shared a photo of her partner and their dog watching England’s dramatic victory 2-1 victory against Slovakia in the last-16 of the Euros.
‘The boys watching the boys’, she wrote with a St George’s flags.
Three weeks ago, they went on a romantic trip to Paris, the city of love, where they stayed at the luxurious Renaissance Paris Nobel Tour Eiffel.
And in February, Boulter shared a reel of adorable snaps from Rotterdam, Netherlands, in a birthday post for her boyfriend.
Last night, Boulter also shared a photo of her partner and their dog watching England’s dramatic victory 2-1 victory against Slovakia in the last-16 of the Euros
Boulter is pictured during a practice session ahead of this week’s Wimbledon championships
She wrote: ‘Happy birthday my love (some world class b’day embarrassment in the last slide). Boulter was referring to a video of the whole restaurant singing happy birthday to him in Dutch as he hid his face in embarrassment.
Another post features de Minaur in his Grinch Christmas jumper stating ‘Merry Whatever’ and Boulter’s matching one, declaring: ‘He hates Christmas.’ Her idea, she admits.
At Wimbledon last year, the pair rented a house near the club, which strengthened their ties in the run up to the competition.
‘We all get to spend a whole lot of time together,’ she said at the time. ‘I have the option of popping out when I want to – I know where the closest coffee shop is, where the stringers are – so this is a place I can call home.’
There have been famous relationships in tennis in the past, most notably Steffi Graf and Andre Agassi who have been married since 2001, but Boulter and de Minaur are the sport’s new ‘IT’ couple and there has been plenty of interest in them since they began dating.
They’ve been navigating the added scrutiny with ease and Boulter insists she prefers not to pay attention to what’s written.
Katie Boulter and partner, on and off the pitch, Alex De Minaur at Wimbledon last year
They are pictured here smiling at each other in a sweet interview at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California in March
‘I haven’t seen any of the newspapers,’ she previously joked when asked about now being in the eye of the general public and not just tennis fans.
‘But I am here feeling very privileged. I have to get a job done and keep grounded. I need to work as much as possible to keep as ready as ever.
‘I wouldn’t say anything has changed (since being No 1). I love to have that feeling when the crowd is roaring and I appreciate it more than anything else on this planet, hopefully I can use that.
‘I have an incredible team, boyfriend and friends around me who are super level headed and keep me grounded.’
Both Boulter and de Minaur regularly watch the other compete and don’t try to remain in the background when cheering on from the grandstands at tournaments.
And Boulter caught the hearts of the nation at SW19 in 2022 when she broke down in tears after her debut Centre Court victory, revealing her grandmother had died just two days previously.
Alex de Minaur at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London earlier this week ahead of Wimbledon
The strength of her relationship with de Minaur and the support from family helped her come through the ordeal to produce a stunning career display at Wimbledon.
Speaking afterwards she said: ‘I’ve got absolutely no words right now. The crowd was unbelievable, thank you so much for getting me through that.
‘I’m going to get emotional. My gran passed away two days ago so I’d just like to dedicate that to her today.
Boulter later praised her boyfriend’s unconditional encouragement in an interview with Tatler, explaining: ‘I couldn’t ask for any better, he’s the best support I’ve got.’
In an interview with the Mail in May, de Minaur revealed how is a Leicester City fan now thanks to his girlfriend.
Boulter’s introduction of de Minaur to the sights of her beloved Leicestershire have included their drive past the King Power Stadium and trip into the club shop, which saw him leave with a Leicester City football.
Though how personally motivated he was to possess one remains a matter of some conjecture.
‘She made me buy a Leicester football,’ de Minaur said, breaking into a grin.
‘That’s a lie! You bought that by yourself!’ Boulter joked.
The spotlight will be at its fiercest this week, when they arrive at Wimbledon, where there was relentless focus last year. But they have not shed light on where they will be staying this time around.
‘I know we won’t be in the same house but we haven’t decided whether we’re going to be staying at home, in a hotel, or house,’ Boulter says. ‘We’re just waiting to see how we’re feeling with it and make a last-minute decision, I think.’
