By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Saturday, June 24, 2023
Alex de Minaur doesn't need to look too far for tennis inspiration.
The 24-year-old Aussie sees it in the eyes of his girlfriend, WTA pro Katie Boulter, and reads reinforcement in text messages from his Davis Cup captain and former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt.
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A sharp de Minaur carved up second-seeded Holger Rune 6-3, 7-6(2) today becoming the first Aussie since 2006 champion Hewitt to reach the Queen's Club final.
Afterward, de Minaur credited girlfriend Boulter's rise to her maiden WTA title on the grass of Nottingham last week with inspiring his Queen's Club breakout performance this week.
"To be honest, I was probably inspired by her last week. I mean, I think she put in a hell of a performance, all things considering," de Minaur told the media in London. "I mean, she's playing her home tournament. She's British No. 1 for the first time. She's nonstop playing more Brits, so there's always a lot of nerves and pressure."
Watching Boulter "stand and deliver" amid the pressure pumped de Minaur up to do the same himself.
"She went out there, had a great week, made the final, and then the biggest match of her career, she played one of the best matches I've ever seen her," de Minaur said. "To be able to stand and deliver in that crucial point and win her first title, I was, like, yeah, I've got to watch what she's doing and learn myself."
In the first all-British WTA final in 46 years, Boulter beat Jodie Burrage 6-3, 6-3 last Sunday to claim her maiden championship before supportive home fans on the grass of Nottingham.
It was a historic battle of the Brits marking just the third all-British final in the 50 years of the WTA Tour.
Australian No. 1 de Minaur said he'll be seeking "a few tips" from British No. 1 Boulter tonight before taking on world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz, who is playing to regain world No. 1, in the Queen's Club final.
"I think I have tried to replicate that a little bit this week and just be nice and calm, have a positive mindset," de Minaur said. "You know, it definitely helps. I've got to get a couple more tips from Katie."
Boulter and de Minaur, who often sit in each other's support boxes during matches, celebrated their three-year anniversary as a couple last March.
Sharing the pressures of the pro circuit, the pair provide mutual support during the highs and lows of the season.
De Minaur said he knows Boulter has his back.
"Oh, yeah, she's amazing," de Minaur said of Boulter. "Yeah, I guess it's the beauty of us being both in the same sport. We kind of understand each other.
"We know what to expect, how we can help each other in certain situations."
Photo credit: Katie Boulter Instagram