- Britain’s top-ranked woman is engaged to Alex de Minaur
- Reveals she might have picked up an ‘Aussie twang’
Katie Boulter is enjoying life as an adopted daughter of Australia – although she draws the line at Vegemite.
The British No1 has been dating Aussie No1 Alex de Minaur for five years and has enjoyed enthusiastic backing Down Under.
But Boulter feels her support has reached a new level since she and De Minaur announced their engagement in December.
‘I feel like I’ve already felt the love so much more here, even more than last year,’ said the 28-year-old.
‘Being in Sydney (for the United Cup), which is his home town, where he was born, it was my first proper time playing tennis there. Just walking out onto the court and hearing the crowd for me really did help.
‘I felt very much at home and comfortable. Normally I’m the kind of person that dislikes going to new places. I felt very comfortable from the word go when I was there and that was completely because of them and how they’ve been treating me.
Boulter is pictured with fiancee Alex de Minaur ahead of last month’s United Cup in Sydney, where she was overjoyed with the reaction she got from the local crowd
Britain’s top-ranked woman says she’s ‘felt the love so much more’ in Australia since the couple revealed their engagement in December
‘It makes a world of difference.’
De Minaur is often pictured on his fiancée’s instagram enjoying a pub lunch or country walk, so has Boulter embraced Aussie culture in return? Does she have a favourite local delicacy?
‘It’s definitely not Vegemite,’ she replied. ‘I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not sure that’s my thing. You can say TimTams, love a TimTam.
‘I’m always picking up accents. I don’t know if I have a bit of an Aussie twang here or there.
‘I just love the culture. I really enjoy coming here every single year. Obviously being around someone like Alex, such a hard worker. He loves his country, lives and dies by his Davis Cup number. I think that’s definitely rubbed off on me.
Boulter is pictured at Melbourne Park on Friday. Her draw for the Australian Open has given her a good chance of progressing to the second week of the Grand Slam
Boulter’s fiancee is seeded eighth in Melbourne and will be trying to become the first Aussie to win the Australian Open men’s singles title since 1976
‘I love coming to Australia. It’s just a great place.’
With local support and a benevolent draw – she begins against world No98 Rebecca Marino – this year’s Australian Open offers a great chance for Boulter to make the second week of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.
A deep run at a major feels like the natural next progression for the No24 seed and Boulter admitted she is looking to prioritise the big events more this year.
‘My number one goal this year is to stay healthy,’ she said. ‘The second priority is to increase the value that I put on slams and big tournaments. That’s something I’ve not fully prioritized before, I’ve tried to perform at (the Slams) but not peak at them.
‘Going into this year, that will be more of me learning what I should and shouldn’t do before Slams. There’s a bit more emphasis on it, for sure.’
