Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter enjoy meal ahead of Australian Open campaigns as hometown hero takes on big-serving monster in Melbourne

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter looked relaxed ahead of their Australian Open campaigns as tennis’ golden couple enjoyed a meal together in Melbourne.

De Minaur, 24, enters the tournament in a rich vein of form after defeating Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in the build up to the first major of the year, but faces a tough task in the big-serving Milos Raonic in his first round match on Rod Laver Arena.

Boulter, 27, begins her campaign on Tuesday, where she takes on Yue Yuan in the women’s singles first round. 

But the power couple, who have been described as ‘the Kate and Wills of the Australian tennis season’ looked at ease on Sunday night as they stepped out for a bite to eat in Melbourne. 

De Minaur wore a baggy blue hoodie with a grey Asics cap, grey trousers and Asics trainers, while Boulter opted for a casual look including a violet crop top, black zip up jacket and leggings.

The British number one has been the subject of huge interest in Australia because of her longstanding relationship with de Minaur, who has become the first man from the host nation to make the world’s top ten since Lleyton Hewitt.

Since arriving before Christmas she has become accustomed to more attention and getting the paparazzi treatment more than she might even get around the time of Wimbledon.

‘It’s definitely been fun to be a part of because it’s been a little bit of a circus, but a good circus,’ said Boulter.

‘I can’t walk down the street with him separately. I feel like I’m sharing him with everyone, which isn’t a bad thing.

‘I think it’s awesome that he’s getting the attention that he really does deserve. He’s put the work in for it. He’s playing some of the best tennis of his life.

‘It really does fill me with a lot of pride to actually watch him at this moment because I know everything that he’s been through, how hard and how strong he is with everything he does.

‘I think he’s really rubbed off on me in so many different ways: the way he holds himself, the way he works.

‘Having his expertise on the side, it’s great for me because it’s a support. It’s someone that I can talk to about anything, including everything to do with my career.

‘To have that extra support, it does make a huge difference and I feel like it’s showing.’

The two of them were training together in Alicante prior to heading south for the opening leg of the season.

With Nick Kyrgios still sidelined through injury, De Minaur will carry home hopes virtually single-handed, but the 24-year-old sees only positives.

‘I’m living my dream,’ he said. ‘I can wake up in the morning and know that I’ve achieved a massive milestone, which was very tough to get to. I didn’t know if I was going to achieve it.

‘Now I can look at myself and say that I’ve done it, that I’m a completely different player to what I was last year. It’s exciting because I’ve got bigger and better things to come hopefully.’

Boulter and De Minaur have been together since 2020.