Tennis power couple Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter cop brutal US Open snub
The Australian world No. 8 asked for a wildcard, writing 'pretty pretty please' to tournament officials after learning he and Boulter had not been granted automatic entry.
'Katie and I would like to ask for a WC pretty, pretty please,' de Minaur wrote on social media. But his plea was ignored, with the US Open overlooking the tennis power couple.
Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
It comes after the US Open made a controversial change to the mixed doubles in 2025, with singles-ranked players earning preference into the main draw over the top-ranked doubles players.
The winners of the reduced 16-team competition will also take home a whopping $1.6 million.
De Minaur and Boulter missed out on automatic qualification due to their combined singles ranking of 53.
And on Monday (AEDT), it was confirmed that they also had missed out on one of the eight wildcard spots, despite a spate of withdrawals.
The move not to hand them one of the wildcard spots is definitely a surprising one and leaves de Minaur as the highest-ranked man not given a place in the lucrative tournament.
Americans have been looked after well, with Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka earning a spot, while Emma Raducanu and Alcaraz will join forces and Novak Djokovic has also earned a ticket alongside Olga Danilovich.
But tennis fans won't see their favourite couple teamed up at Flushing Meadows with the Aussie and Brit snubbed despite several other withdrawals, which has left the new pairing Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper as the No. 1 seeds on the back of both of their planned partners withdrawing.
De Minaur and Boulter haven't officially competed togethersince Wimbledon in 2023, and many fans have voiced their anger that they weren't handed a wildcard.
'The USTA needs to rethink their mixed doubles exhibition … err, sorry, format. Why were De Minaur and Boulter not given at least a wildcard?' one wrote.
'How haven't De Minaur & Boulter been given a spot lmao,' another added.
'Yeah okay, America let's give washed-up athletes a go, but not tennis' favourite couple smh,' a third said.
Nick Kyrgios pulls out of mixed doubles tournament
Meanwhile, Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the US Open mixed doubles tournament.
Kyrgios said his knee was 'cooked' after a recent doubles return and therefore wouldn't be able to team up with Naomi Osaka as originally planned.
The withdrawal could hinder Kyrgios' capacity to play in the singles as well after being included based on his protected ranking.
The 30-year-old hasn't played a singles match since March.
The US Open's mixed doubles begins on Wednesday (AEDT).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tennis power couple Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter cop brutal US Open snub
Alex de Minaur's plea with US Open officials to allow him to team up with his fiancee, Katie Boulter, has fallen on deaf ears, with tournament officials overlooking the pair for the upcoming lucrative mixed doubles tournament. The Australian world No. 8 asked for a wildcard, writing 'pretty pretty please' to tournament officials after learning he and Boulter had not been granted automatic entry. 'Katie and I would like to ask for a WC pretty, pretty please,' de Minaur wrote on social media. But his plea was ignored, with the US Open overlooking the tennis power couple. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. It comes after the US Open made a controversial change to the mixed doubles in 2025, with singles-ranked players earning preference into the main draw over the top-ranked doubles players. The winners of the reduced 16-team competition will also take home a whopping $1.6 million. De Minaur and Boulter missed out on automatic qualification due to their combined singles ranking of 53. And on Monday (AEDT), it was confirmed that they also had missed out on one of the eight wildcard spots, despite a spate of withdrawals. The move not to hand them one of the wildcard spots is definitely a surprising one and leaves de Minaur as the highest-ranked man not given a place in the lucrative tournament. Americans have been looked after well, with Venus Williams and Reilly Opelka earning a spot, while Emma Raducanu and Alcaraz will join forces and Novak Djokovic has also earned a ticket alongside Olga Danilovich. But tennis fans won't see their favourite couple teamed up at Flushing Meadows with the Aussie and Brit snubbed despite several other withdrawals, which has left the new pairing Jessica Pegula and Jack Draper as the No. 1 seeds on the back of both of their planned partners withdrawing. De Minaur and Boulter haven't officially competed togethersince Wimbledon in 2023, and many fans have voiced their anger that they weren't handed a wildcard. 'The USTA needs to rethink their mixed doubles exhibition … err, sorry, format. Why were De Minaur and Boulter not given at least a wildcard?' one wrote. 'How haven't De Minaur & Boulter been given a spot lmao,' another added. 'Yeah okay, America let's give washed-up athletes a go, but not tennis' favourite couple smh,' a third said. Nick Kyrgios pulls out of mixed doubles tournament Meanwhile, Aussie firebrand Nick Kyrgios has pulled out of the US Open mixed doubles tournament. Kyrgios said his knee was 'cooked' after a recent doubles return and therefore wouldn't be able to team up with Naomi Osaka as originally planned. The withdrawal could hinder Kyrgios' capacity to play in the singles as well after being included based on his protected ranking. The 30-year-old hasn't played a singles match since March. The US Open's mixed doubles begins on Wednesday (AEDT).


Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Swiatek warms up for US Open with Cincinnati success
Third-ranked Iga Swiatek has captured the Cincinnati Open title by defeating Jasmine Paolini 7-5 6-4. Paolini jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first set on Monday night but Swiatek roared back to go ahead 5-3. The Italian broke serve to even at 5-5, but Swiatek closed out a first-set victory in 56 minutes. Paolini broke serve twice in the second set to get within 5-4, but the Pole was able to serve out the match for her 24th career singles title. Swiatek has won all six meetings against the current world No.9, dropping only one set in those matches. She had failed to advance past the semi-finals in her six previous appearances at the Cincinnati Open. Swiatek reached the final four in each of the past two years, but lost to eventual champions Coco Gauff in 2023 and Aryna Sabalenka in 2024. Seventh seed Paolini is the first Italian woman to reach the final in Cincinnati. Since she was a qualifier in 2023, she has reached two grand slam singles finals, won a grand slam doubles title and an Olympic gold medal. The Cincinnati Open is considered a tune-up for the US Open, which begins on Sunday in New York. The last two years, both the men's and women's Cincinnati Open champions went on to win the final grand slam tournament of the year.


Perth Now
7 hours ago
- Perth Now
Tomic hoping to keep up with Jones in Open qualifying
Teenage prodigy Emerson Jones has led four Australians through to the second round on the first day of US Open qualifying in New York. Bidding to make the main draw for the first time at an overseas grand slam, Jones upset American 10th seed Bernarda Pera 6-1 4-6 6-2 to notch her maiden win at Flushing Meadows. After reaching the final round of qualifying at Wimbledon, the former world No.1 junior next faces lower-ranked Brazilian Laura Pigossi bidding to emulate that feat. Astra Sharma and Maddison Inglis also progressed to round two of women's qualifying. Sharma beat Serbian Lola Radivojevic 7-5 6-4, while Inglis defeated Storm Hunter 6-3 6-4 in an all-Aussie affair. But Arina Rodionova lost 6-1 7-5 to Croatian Tara Wuerth. James Duckworth and James McCabe advanced in men's qualifying. Fifth-seeded Duckworth downed Argentine Facundo Bagnis 6-4 6-2, while McCabe rallied for a 6-3 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 win over Italian Francesco Maestrelli. But Omar Jasika bowed out 6-7 (3-7) 6-3 6-3 to Frenchman Hugo Grenier. Eight more Australians, including Bernard Tomic and Daria Saville, will open their qualifying campaigns on Wednesday (AEST). Back up to No.169 in the world after almost spiralling outside the top 1000, 32-year-old Tomic plays American Patrick Kypson in his quest to reach a grand slam main draw for the first time since successfully qualifying for the 2021 Australian Open. The 2009 US Open junior champion hasn't featured in the Flushing Meadows main draw in nine years. But he has arrived in New York in strong form, fresh off winning a Challenger event in Colombia. The qualifiers are hoping to join a dozen Australian direct entrants, led by men's world No.8 Alex de Minaur, and wildcards Tristan Skoolkate and Tahlia Gibson.