Katie Boulter: England’s No 1 in the big season and life with partner Alex de Minaur | News Tennis

Katie Boulter sat down with Sky Sports’ Gigi Salmon to describe her “good” 2024, where she wants to improve her game and life on and off the field with partner Alex de Minaur.

The UK No 1 claimed titles in San Diego and Nottingham and has been stuck in the top 30 at a career-high No 23 for the past month.

The 28-year-old ended the season with a semi-final run at the WTA 500 in Tokyo, followed by a runner-up finish in Hong Kong – her third tour-level final of the season.

“The big point for me is knowing that I can go through a full season and that the work I’ve put in has paid off,” Boulter said.

“I’ve been working hard every day to put myself in that position and to be able to finish and not get injured, I think it’s a full credit to my team. They’ve been pushing my points. It’s been a long time and it’s showing now.

“No injuries, but you know anything can happen and I really don’t think of it that way, but at the same time it’s been a really good season for me physically and I feel like I’m getting stronger.”

Where to improve and goals for 2025?

“Something that frustrates me is that you’re never satisfied,” added Boulter, who has learned how to manage his body, investing in his personal physio, Rory Mee, and Andy Murray’s former coach, Matt Little.

“I think tennis is one of those sports where you always aim for something, no matter how your season goes.

“I think there are little things that can get me higher (in the rankings). I think in a way, it’s really fun for me because I feel like it’s another goal. It’s another opportunity. It’s another place I’ve never been. And I want to go to a place that always motivates me.

“Even though I’m frustrated, I’m not going to be satisfied, so I’m going to stay motivated.”

With that in mind, Boulter admits his tennis-playing girlfriend De Minaur has pushed him towards his goals when looking at the rankings.

He said: “I’m aiming for the middle of the year, where I want to be. There’s a lot of work to be done on the pitch and in the gym before that happens.

What are the mental and physical changes?

Working with Little has improved Boulter’s movement on the court and his physical stature and he looked impressive during the championships in San Diego and Nottingham.

“I think a big part of changing coaches is big fitness for me mentally and physically because it’s staying fresh, staying new. It’s new, it’s something different. It’s something I haven’t done in a long time. And Matt has been a massive asset to the team and obviously he’s got a lot of experience. .

“He has been playing tennis and he has brought another level of the game that I think I met with him. The confidence that he has in me, the confidence that he has in me, it drives me and he also knows how to go beyond my limits, everyone has come and he has been a big part of that success.

Enjoy being away from work with De Minaur

Boulter and De Minaur have been together for more than four years and could face each other at the start of the 2025 season with England and Australia drawn in the same group at the United Cup – live on Sky Sports Tennis.

“Anyone who has watched our journey has seen us grow together on and off the field. For me, it’s great to know that everything is good on the court, but we can still enjoy time away from the court together. , “said the Leicestershire star .

“I feel that we have helped each other in many ways. First of all, he was there to give me advice. He has confidence, so I have to take his advice and I don’t mind listening to him once. I don’t know if he takes it well from I but he knew what he was doing for a long time, even though he was still very young.

“He’s been on the same journey that I’m on now. I’ve probably been on it a little bit longer, so I have a little bit of a different perspective that can help him and he can help me with the rankings.

“You have pushed my boundaries and given me the confidence that I can be where I am today.”

Do they train together?

“There is time. There are a couple scheduled for pre-season, I believe. And maybe in Australia we have one or two strange ones as well but all I will say is very competitive,” smiled Boulter.

“I won’t say that we can’t be competitive, one of us, no matter what. Whether it’s tennis, padel, or something small like cards, it’s noisy. it’s a target because I always beat him, he’s not good at that target, so he had to work.

Two crazy weeks…

De Minaur watched Boulter win in San Diego.

A day earlier, De Minaur defeated Casper Ruud to win the ATP 500 title in Acapulco before flying to the United States on Sunday morning.

He then one-upped himself by claiming two crowns on the same day in the summer when De Minaur won his second tour-level court title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and, just hours later, Boulter followed in the Nottingham cup match.

“I still don’t know how it actually happened. For it to happen one time is pretty crazy – it’s not something that happens regularly. But then for it to happen twice with both of them in the same week… I don’t know what forces pull them together but something it’s weird out there,” Boulter said.

“Our life revolves around tennis, so it’s very difficult not to talk about tennis, but I really want to get away from tennis. It’s important to kill and I think it’s over at the end of the season. He can spend a few days with me in Leicestershire with my family just doing things that very different.

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