Katie Boulter will not be in the stands for Alex de Minaur’s Australian Open quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz, after the British tennis player left Australia to prepare for her next tournament.
De Minaur confirmed following his fourth-round win over Alexander Bublik that Boulter had already departed Melbourne and was travelling back to London.
‘She’s actually currently on a flight to London,’ de Minaur told Jim Courier during his on-court interview.
‘She was telling me she was able to watch the match on a plane.’
Boulter is scheduled to compete at the Ostrava Open in the Czech Republic, which begins next week.
Her travel and preparation requirements mean she will also miss Tuesday night’s quarter final, widely regarded as the most significant match of de Minaur’s career.
Engaged professional tennis players Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur are virtually inseparable
Boulter was spotted in the crowd supporter her partner for his first three Australian Open matches
De Minaur shared the love by signing the camera on multiple occasions throughout the tournament
Boulter had attended each of de Minaur’s first three matches at Melbourne Park before leaving Australia.
The decision aligns with the couple’s long-standing agreement to prioritise their professional careers.
De Minaur has previously said both players accept they cannot always be present for each other’s matches due to competing schedules.
‘There have been moments where I would’ve loved to come watch her, but I had to focus on my recovery,’ de Minaur said in a recent interview with Body+Soul.
‘And vice versa.’
‘We don’t take the support for granted, but we also don’t make each other feel bad when we can’t be there.’
De Minaur also addressed questions about the stability of their relationship after Courier raised the topic during earlier on-court interviews at the tournament.
‘In trouble? No, it’s all chill,’ de Minaur said.
Boulter will not be courtside for de Minaur’s match against Carlos Alcaraz as she has playing duties back at home
De Minaur was courtside to watch Boulter in round one of the Australian Open, but has had to miss some of her matches in the past
The couple have an understanding that their individual tennis careers are prioritised over supporting each other
‘We’ve got a great relationship. She trusts me and trusts my judgement… We’re good, don’t worry.’
The Australian sixth seed reached the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-1 6-1 win over Bublik and is aiming to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.
He has lost all six of his previous quarter final appearances at major tournaments.
De Minaur is also seeking to become the first Australian man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.
His opponent Alcaraz leads their head-to-head record 5-0, including a straight-sets win at last year’s ATP Finals.
Despite Boulter’s absence from the stands, de Minaur said the decision was based solely on scheduling and career commitments.
‘The same way she’d never want me to jeopardise my own career to support her,’ he said.
‘I’d never want her to jeopardise hers.’
The quarterfinal will be played on Rod Laver Arena at the Australian Open on Tuesday night.
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