logo
‘Not ideal' – Katie Boulter's fiance De Minaur faces Djokovic after coming through ‘not nice' situation at Wimbledon

‘Not ideal' – Katie Boulter's fiance De Minaur faces Djokovic after coming through ‘not nice' situation at Wimbledon

The Irish Sun07-07-2025
ALEX DE MINAUR will take on Novak Djokovic on Centre Court this afternoon after coming through the "not nice" situation of seeing fiancee Katie Boulter suffer a devastating defeat in round two.
5
Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur got engaged last December
Credit: Instagram
5
De Minaur, 26, has reached the last 16 at Wimbledon
Credit: AFP
5
Boulter has been cheering De Minaur on since her SW19 exit
Credit: PA
The Aussie star, 26, was sat in Boulter's player box on No1 Court as she was
Asked about how he coped with the result amid his own Wimbledon campaign, De Minaur said: "There's no real rule book that you can go on, but it's not ideal. It's not nice.
"I felt for Katie yesterday, and I've been in those positions myself. It's not easy by any means to forget about it. It's something that stays with you.
"On my side there's obviously the part of doing my best to comfort her and try to be there for her the same way she is there for me through the good stuff and the bad stuff.
"It definitely does have a little bit of impact on yourself, and you've got to do your best to try and have a mental reset and shift your focus towards yourself and realising that you do have a match the following day that you've got to prepare for, it's not going to be an easy one, it's going to be a battle."
De Minaur has since managed to navigate his way through the draw, beating qualifier August Holmgren in straight sets to book a Centre Court date with Djokovic.
The match will be a poignant one for the No11 seed, who was
Boulter, 28, has stuck around SW19 since her loss and has been supporting De Minaur from his player box.
Most read in Tennis
BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK
5
De Minaur watched Boulter's second round defeat from her player box
Credit: Getty
The Aussie can expect brilliant British support this afternoon, given his relationship with Boulter.
On the Wimbledon crowd, De Minaur said last week: "I've felt an amazing shift of support the last three or four years, and spending a lot more time here in the UK, it's been quite special. It feels like I'm growing roots here.
Brits' opponent forced to retire from Wimbledon after suffering freak injury when he tried to catch the ball
As I said before, I've been fortunate enough to be around the grounds in Wimbledon when the tournament is not on.
"I've been able to train here. I've been able to be here with Katie. So I've kind of been able to see shift between it being a club into a Grand Slam.
"All those aspects all the way from spending some time together, being at home, knowing the location a lot better, it definitely gives you an overall better feeling as you go into this tournament."
On Djokovic, De Minaur added: "Novak has completed the game, right? He's broken all the records.
"It's amazing for him to still be showing up and still showing that fire and desire to win more.
Read more on the Irish Sun
"He's a player that can find motivation and fire from anything, and that's extremely dangerous.
"You don't want to give him something to get motivated about because then you'll definitely see his absolute best side."
5
Wimbledon 2025 LIVE - follow all the latest scores and updates from a thrilling fortnight at SW19
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Rory McIlroy more at peace with his mind and his game on return to Royal Portrush
Rory McIlroy more at peace with his mind and his game on return to Royal Portrush

Irish Examiner

timean hour ago

  • Irish Examiner

Rory McIlroy more at peace with his mind and his game on return to Royal Portrush

It's become de rigeur to parse every syllable, every tilt of the head and shrug of the shoulders, when Rory McIlroy holds court. Somehow, this hasn't changed much, if at all, since he completed his career Grand Slam at Augusta in April. The 36-year-old has struggled to centre himself since achieving that lifetime ambition at the Masters and, of course, his decision to swerve more than a few media duties since sent the association of amateur psychologists and the body language industry into tailspins. We'll keep the pop psychology short here. McIlroy exuded a sense of peace on Monday afternoon. He chuckled a few times and folded his arms loosely as he gave his usual erudite and considered takes on the world of Rory and the universe of opinions and oceans of fascination that whirl about it. The pressure is off, one questioner said breezily. 'Is it?' McIlroy laughed. 'Is the pressure off?' This ease was already apparent on the course earlier in the morning when, with golf clubs around the province providing different stewards on every hole, he delighted in seeing so many familiar faces on what is a rare competitive outing for him in these parts. Former Ireland and British and Irish Lions legend Mike Gibson was among the other blasts from the past to sidle up and spend a brief moment with a man whose only step back from it all came when he was asked about being Ulster's best ever sportsperson. So much of Monday's media spooled back on the past. How could it not? He was asked again about setting the course record 61 for these Dunluce Links as a 16-year old back in 2006 and, inevitably, of his memories from 2019 when he hit THAT tee shot, an opening quadruple bogey, carded a 79 and ultimately missed the cut. He had absorbed this brand of Ulster love before, at Irish Opens here in Portrush, in Royal County Down and at Portstewart, but this was worship inflated again by a fervent expectation and a yearning that ultimately worked against him. That Thursday exists as a blur in his mind now but he does remember the roar of the crowd when he hit a six-iron to the 14th green on day two when chasing a score that might curb the worst of his opening 79 and give him a shot at the weekend. All that is informing his approach this week. 'I guess it's just something I didn't mentally prepare for that day or that week, but I learned pretty quickly that one of my challenges, especially in a week like this, is controlling myself and controlling that battle. 'I talked about it at the Masters on that last day. The battle on that last day wasn't with Augusta National. It wasn't with Bryson [DeChambeau]. It wasn't with Justin Rose. The battle that day was with myself. 'Whenever you get put in environments like that, that's basically what it is. It's you trying to overcome your mind and trying to give yourself that clarity to give yourself the best chance to put together a really good performance.' There's no doubt but that McIlroy put far too much pressure on himself six years ago. Shane Lowry shared here how his friend had declared that 2019 Open to be the biggest tournament he would likely ever play in the days beforehand. But the past can be overplayed. McIlroy, when asked to go back over that 61 in '06, framed it in the context of how TrackMans weren't even a thing back then, and added that the very course itself has been altered significantly since. Time moves on, so has he. Ultimately, this is all academic, conjecture and fluff designed to keep us occupied before the first tee on Thursday. More integral to the question as to what McIlroy might do at an Open here second time around is his current form. Finishing joint second at the Genesis Scottish Open reaffirmed a return to something approaching his best when paired with his previous effort in ending in a tie for sixth at the Travelers Championship in late June. And his readiness was obvious when landing in Portrush at 1am on Monday so that he could take to the course at 7am on the back of just four hours sleep in and get some prep in before the circus that is The Open got into full swing. 'I'm certainly encouraged by how I've played the last two starts, especially last week in Scotland. I think the two weeks off after the Travelers just to reset, to get over here, a bit of a change of scenery, has been really nice. 'When I was looking at the calendar for 2025, this was the tournament that was probably, I don't know, circled, even more so than the Masters for different reasons. It's lovely to be coming in here already with a major and everything else that's happened this year. 'I'm excited with where my game is. I felt like I showed some really good signs last week. I feel like I'm in a good spot and had… Not that last week was a pure preparation week, but I definitely feel like it put me in a good spot heading into here.'

Watch Peter O'Mahony fail at Takeshi's Castle-inspired water park leaving wife Jessica in stitches
Watch Peter O'Mahony fail at Takeshi's Castle-inspired water park leaving wife Jessica in stitches

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Watch Peter O'Mahony fail at Takeshi's Castle-inspired water park leaving wife Jessica in stitches

PETER O'Mahony may still be an elite athlete mere weeks off his he's still susceptible to the tricky tasks posed at water parks. He, wife Jessica and their three children are currently 4 'If he murders me, I probably wouldn't blame him' Credit: @Jeskaomahony 4 He may have wanted to after she posted his calamitous falls Credit: @Jeskaomahony 4 Which were soundtracked by her cackling with laughter Credit: @Jeskaomahony 4 Even rugby tough guys are reduced to clinging on for dear life Credit: @Jeskaomahony But while he may have been adept at maintaining his balance hitting countless scrums over the years, his sea legs weren't quite so sturdy while trying to negotiate a Takeshi's Castle-like challenge. While the 35-year-old is living the carefree life this week, many of his longtime Ireland teammates are facing into the serious business of the British and Irish Lions' first Test versus Australia. But nonetheless, Read More On Irish Sport Sexton won two Champions Cups and three The Wallabies struggled to beat He said: 'We know how good he is at preparing teams. "But he's been gone six years so you'd like to think that Joe would have evolved, changed his ways and learned from that time with the All Blacks. Most read in Rugby Union 'Some of the things he is big on haven't changed, you can clearly see that. 'But we've only seen them for one game and we know, for sure, that Joe likes to set things up and what he showed against Fiji will be very different from what he shows against the Lions.' Craig Casey shares hilarious 'fear' weighing on him before captaining Ireland for first time vs Georgia Sexton, who won Down Under with the 2013 Lions, has been working with Farrell's kickers, including the likely Test fly-half He added: 'Finn's played very well. He's controlled things, been composed and place-kicked very well. 'It is about helping these guys out; whether it is the No 10s, the kickers . . . or if 'He hasn't asked me about dealing with the refs yet! I'm still waiting, and I might be waiting a long time. Maybe he'll ask on the plane, on the way home!'

Little-known Chelsea star who started season at BARNSLEY cosies up to glam girlfriend after winning Club World Cup
Little-known Chelsea star who started season at BARNSLEY cosies up to glam girlfriend after winning Club World Cup

The Irish Sun

time3 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Little-known Chelsea star who started season at BARNSLEY cosies up to glam girlfriend after winning Club World Cup

GABRIEL SLONINA cosied up to his glam girlfriend after winning the Club World Cup with Chelsea. The American goalie, 21, triumphed on home soil as his Advertisement 13 Gabriel Slonina cosied up to his girlfriend after winning the Club World Cup Credit: Getty 13 Amila Adna Adzemovic joined Slonina on the pitch in America Credit: Getty 13 The brunette beauty hails from Norway Credit: INSTAGRAM 13 She works in communications at a sales company Credit: INSTAGRAM 13 Slonina and Amila locked lips in a passionate embrace Credit: INSTAGRAM Slonina, But he was still awarded a gold medal from President Donald Trump after being part of Enzo Maresca's squad for the summer tournament. And after collecting his prize, Slonina was joined on the field by his stunning partner. Amila Adna Adzemovic hails from Norway. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL Her LinkedIn profile says she works in communications for a Norwegian sales company. It is unknown how long Amila and Slonina have been dating each other. But the couple looked loved-up on the pitch as they toasted Chelsea's success. Amila showed her support for Slonina by wearing a Chelsea shirt with his name on the back. Advertisement Most read in Football Latest BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Later she took a POV photo holding the gold medal her other half had around his neck. And Amila commented on more snaps by saying: 'I always win with you.' Club World Cup final descends into huge brawl as PSG manager Luis Enrique SLAPS Chelsea's Joao Pedro in face 13 Amila showed off the gold medal Slonina was awarded by President Donald Trump Credit: Instagram @amilaadna Advertisement 13 The goalie was part of Chelsea's squad as they beat PSG in the final Credit: Getty 13 Slonina started the season at Barnsley before injury ended his loan spell Credit: AFP 13 It is not known how long Amila and Slonina have been dating for Credit: Instagram @amilaadna Slonina signed for Chelsea from Chicago Fire for £8million in August 2022. Advertisement He remained at the MLS side until January 2023 before moving to Stamford Bridge. Six months later Last summer Slonina moved to Barnsley in League One, but his loan ended after 14 appearances in January due to injury. The one-time USA international is still waiting to make his senior bow for Chelsea. Advertisement But he could be waiting a while, with Robert Sanchez currently No1 ahead of Filip Jorgensen. Mike Penders has also joined Chelsea this summer, while the Blues could yet reprise their interest in AC Milan star Mike Maignan. 13 Amila showed her support for Slonina at the Club World Cup Credit: Instagram @gabrielslonina 13 The pair have shared several loved-up snaps online Credit: Instagram @gabrielslonina Advertisement 13 The couple are living their best lives Credit: Instagram @gabrielslonina 13 They have even taken in games together at Stamford Bridge Credit: Instagram @gabrielslonina

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store