‘I wouldn’t say I was thrilled’: Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur prepare for more awkwardness in the United Cup

Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur will have to put their relationship to the side on New Year’s Day when Great Britain and Australia face off in the United Cup.

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter will likely spend December 31 bringing in the new year together, but it’ll be a very different feeling the following day when Australia takes on Great Britain in a match that could decide Group F at the United Cup.

The power couple faced a similar scenario last year when they were put in the same group in Perth, and Boulter says she’s not “thrilled” at the idea of having to take on de Minaur again in a crucial event before the Australian Open.

Boulter won her singles match last year against Ajla Tomljanovic before de Minaur lost the singles, with bragging rights up for grabs once more on January 1 in Sydney.

Katie Boulter concedes it’ll be a bit awkward when Great Britain and Australia play again at the United Cup on January 1. Picture: Jason Koerner/Getty Images

“I wouldn’t say I was thrilled at the idea of playing him all over again,” she said on Monday while de Minaur trained on Ken Rosewall Arena behind her.

“He’s a top 10 player and he knows how to play tennis, so there’s one side of it. Then there’s the personal side of it which is difficult but also great for bragging rights.

“I’m looking forward to the match and I think it’s going to be a great atmosphere. Playing Australia is always going to be fun. We’re definitely going to be the underdogs so let’s put pressure on them.”

Australia’s top-ranked man won’t have to play Boulter in the mixed doubles but you could tell that he also wasn’t too excited about the impending awkwardness.

“I don’t know how to explain it. It’s almost surreal that it’s a whole year later and here we are again,” he said.

“It’s going to be interesting once again. Hopefully we can play some good tennis.

“It’s not my ideal interesting, but it is the luck of the draw.”

An awkward 24 hours won’t spoil a relationship that has seen both players shoot up the rankings over the past few years, with Boulter to remain de Minaur’s number one supporter for the rest of 2025.

Boulter will still support Alex de Minaur in every match he plays, just not when Great Britain plays Australia. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

“We take it really well,” she said of the rivalry.

“We do like to throw some banter each other’s way, and I think we handle it that way rather than any other way.

“We know we support each other. It’s such an important start to each other’s years and we’ll always do everything we can for our country.

“At the end of the day, we’re still going to go home and be together and get through it together.

“I don’t think he’s going to be out there cheering for me, but hey, you never know. People do surprise you.

“I’m always supporting him and I support what he does. In that match it’s a very unique situation and something that I’m not used to. We’ll just try to handle it the best we can.

“I’ll be supporting him every single time from the box for the rest of the year.”

It’s been 12 months since their meeting in Perth, and Boulter knows how special the United Cup is for de Minaur this time around given Australia’s group matches will be in the city where he was born.

“I’ve seen the atmosphere it creates for him and I know how much he loves this court. He tells me all the time it’s his court,” she said ahead of a showdown with Australia’s Olivia Gadecki next week.

“So if we can get a win over the Aussies, it’ll be my court.”

Originally published as ‘I wouldn’t say I was thrilled’: Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur prepare for more awkwardness in the United Cup