Katie Boulter is riding the wave of support. The No.25 ranked British player triumphed in a hard-fought first-round match at the Australian Open, overcoming Canada’s Rebecca Marino with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win at Kia Arena in Melbourne. Despite facing challenges, including a strong second set from Marino, Boulter rallied in the decisive third set to secure her victory. Must have truly been exhausting for the player, so what kept her going?

The 34-year-old appeared more composed early on, while Boulter’s nerves were evident, back-to-back double faults gifting her opponent an early break, though Boulter quickly regained control. The British No. 1 then seized another break to lead 4-3, appearing relatively comfortable as she converted her third set point.

However, Marino surged ahead at the start of the second set, breaking Boulter’s serve in the second game. Frustration began to mount for the Brit, evident in her racket-smacking outbursts. Unable to exert consistent pressure on Marino’s serve, her usual composure seemed to unravel.

Facing mounting pressure in the deciding set, Boulter valiantly saved a break point in the opening game and two more at 2-2. As the tension intensified, De Minaur, who had been observing the match from his exercise bike during his cool-down, sprinted down the steps to join his partner’s team, offering much-needed support.

Boulter, visibly shaken by Marino’s inspired play, finally found an opening on return when the Canadian served at 5-6, converting her second match point as Marino netted. In her post-match interview, Boulter kept it real about the “marathon” match she just experienced on the court. “That was way too stressful for me,” she admitted.

“I would have preferred an easier match, but she came out firing today! I mean literally, it’s because of you guys in the crowd that I made it through this one—thank you so much!” With this win, she joins fellow Brits Jack Draper, Emma Raducanu, Jodie Burrage, Harriet Dart, and Jacob Fearnley in Round 2. But while she joins her fellow Brits, the interviewer was curious— is Australia a “home away from home” for her?

“It’s funny you say that. This is the closest I’ve ever felt to home,” she added. While she credited the fans for their support, there might be another reason for her comfort—a certain Aussie in the crowd. Yes, her fiance, ATP star Alex de Minaur, was there cheering her on.

He rushed over after his own match against Botic Van de Zandschulp. Hearing the crowd from the neighboring arena put her at ease, knowing he had won his match. “Having him come out and support means pretty much everything to me,” she said. “Having the extra positivity from my bench makes the difference.” Isn’t that just adorable?

But even sweeter is that the couple recently got engaged after five years together. They made things official back in March 2021 and quickly became fan favorites among tennis couples. Their engagement is truly the icing on the cake and continues to steal hearts at the Australian Open.

Katie and Alex steal the AO spotlight with a shiny ring

Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur are raising the bar for relationship goals at the 2025 Australian Open. As they prepare for the tournament, this tennis duo has charmed fans with their affectionate exchanges. In a recent press conference, Boulter opened up about her engagement with de Minaur and his “honorary Brit” experience at Wimbledon 2024.

She said, “I feel like I’ve already felt the love so much more here, just more than last year. Being in Sydney, which is obviously his hometown, where he was born, it was probably my first proper time playing tennis there. Just walking out onto the court and hearing the crowd for me really did help me. I felt very much at home and comfortable.”

Similarly, she reflected on her comfort level at the United Cup. Noting that she first noticed the feeling of comfort there, “Normally I’m actually the kind of person that dislikes going to new places, playing on a court for the first time. I actually felt very comfortable from the word ‘go’ when I was there. I think that was completely because of them and how they’ve been treating me. Yeah, it makes a world of difference.”

Having been together for nearly five years, they announced their engagement on December 23, 2024. They shared their joyful news on Instagram with the caption, “We’ve been keeping a small secret…” alongside a charming photo of Boulter nestled in de Minaur’s embrace.

Now as both players prepare for their Round 2 matches at the Australian Open—de Minaur against Tristan Boyer and Boulter facing Veronika Kudermetova—do you think we’ll witness more heartwarming moments from this lovely couple as they pursue their dreams at this prestigious event? Let us know in the comments below!