Alex de Minaur Battles at US Open, Opens Up on Coaching and Engagement

Tennis star balances US Open quarterfinal drama, coaching challenges, and engagement with Katie Boulter

Arun UpadhayaySeptember 3, 2025

15,698 2 minutes read

New York, September 3 EST: Alex de Minaur didn’t just have a tennis match on his plate Wednesday night. The Australian was fighting through a draining quarterfinal at the US Open, but just as much attention has been circling his life away from the court. A new engagement, a candid admission about coaching struggles, and then, under the lights on Ashe, a battle that slipped through his hands.

Engaged, And In The Spotlight

The personal story has been impossible to ignore. De Minaur and Katie Boulter, Britain’s No. 1, are now engaged. They made it public earlier in the summer, and since then the coverage has rolled in. It’s not just gossip; people genuinely like them together.

He told Town & Country she’s his “soul mate.” That word jumped out because athletes don’t usually talk like that. Normally it’s clichés, or they dodge the question. Not here. He sounded open, even vulnerable. And anyone who’s watched them on tour knows the bond is real; she’s there in his box, and he’s at hers whenever schedules allow. In tennis, where couples often struggle just to see each other, that matters.

A Less Glamorous Reality

Then there’s the part that’s less romantic. De Minaur admitted this week that coaching on tour has become a messy business. It’s not about strategy; it’s about logistics. Families, kids, constant travel. It wears everyone down.

He singled out Lleyton Hewitt, who’s been in his corner for years but can’t be everywhere at once. Hewitt has his own children. “Not ideal,” de Minaur said to Yahoo News Australia. You could hear the fatigue in that phrase. Tennis loves to present itself as sleek and professional, but behind it all are fathers and mothers trying to balance real life with a brutal travel calendar.

A Match That Slipped

And then, finally, the tennis. Against Felix Auger-Aliassime, de Minaur started brilliantly. Took the first set 6-4 with his legs flying, retrieving balls nobody else even bothers to chase. The crowd got into it.

But Auger-Aliassime hung on. A tight tiebreak in the second. Then a late push in the third, 7-5. Suddenly, what felt like de Minaur’s match was gone.

The Guardian described it as ragged at times, flashes of brilliance interrupted by errors. That’s fair. Still, the intensity never dropped. De Minaur kept pumping himself up, sprinting for lost causes. But it wasn’t enough.

Where He Stands

This is where his career feels caught good enough to take out top names and to push deep into majors, but still searching for that defining run. The engagement to Boulter might ground him in ways that matter more than rankings. The coaching merry-go-round won’t get easier for him or anyone else.

And the quarterfinal? Another reminder of just how close he is and how cruelly thin the margins can be.

He leaves New York with a mix of things joy off court and frustration on it. The one certainty? He’ll keep running, keep chasing down balls that look impossible. That’s who he is.

New Jersey Times Is Your Source: The Latest In Politics, Entertainment, Business, Breaking News, And Other News. Please Follow Us On Facebook, Instagram, And Twitter To Receive Instantaneous Updates. Also Do Checkout Our Telegram Channel @Njtdotcom For Latest Updates.

Arun Upadhayay

Website | + posts

A former college-level cricketer and lifelong sports enthusiast, Arun Upadhayay brings the heart of an athlete to the sharp eye of a journalist. With firsthand experience in competitive sports and a deep understanding of team dynamics, Arun covers everything from grassroots tournaments to high-stakes international showdowns. His reporting blends field-level grit with analytical precision, making him a trusted voice for sports fans across New Jersey and beyond.

Source

Alex de Minaur Battles at US Open, Opens Up on Coaching and Engagement