Alex de Minaur is staring down the biggest test of his Wimbledon journey—a clash with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic. It’s a match the Aussie was denied last year, when injury forced him to withdraw from their scheduled quarter-final showdown. Now, with a clean bill of health and a point to prove, de Minaur gets another shot at one of tennis’s all-time greats. The world No. 11 has quietly been in stellar form this fortnight, dropping just one set en route to the last 16. A two-time champion on grass, he’s shown he knows his way around the surface. Let’s find out more about him!

Nicknamed “The Demon,” the 26-year-old is known for his lightning speed and never-say-die hustle. Currently ranked world No. 11, he’s quietly carved out one of the most consistent seasons on tour. He’s dropped just one set en route to the fourth round, and he’s eyeing a spot in the quarterfinals with renewed hunger.

Tennis has been part of Alex’s DNA since age three, when he picked up a racquet at Sydney’s Parkside Tennis Courts. Since the age of nine, he’s trained under the watchful eye of coach Adolfo Gutierrez in Alicante, Spain—his second home. While former Aussie great Lleyton Hewitt has never officially coached him, the two share a close mentor-protégé bond that’s helped shape de Minaur’s gritty playing style.

After making waves on the junior circuit (peaking at No. 2 and winning the 2016 Australian Open boys’ doubles title), de Minaur transitioned seamlessly to the pro tour. In 2024, he hit a career-high singles ranking of world No. 6 and wrapped up the season in the top 10 for the very first time. His trophy cabinet features nine ATP singles titles and a doubles crown, with standout wins in Acapulco and s-Hertogenbosch, the ATP 500 and ATP 250 events, respectively. And just to round out an already stellar year, he made the quarterfinals at three Grand Slams: Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, and punched his ticket to the ATP Finals.

This Wimbledon is also like his home away from home. But not just because of his consistency on grass, but because of his British fiancée and fellow tennis player Katie Boulter.

Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter have long been tagged as “relationship goals” by fans, and it’s not hard to see why. Their story began in 2021 with a simple early morning coffee run, and fast forward to December 2024, the Aussie sealed the deal with a proposal. The couple announced their engagement through a joyful Instagram post, flashing a selfie that prominently featured Boulter’s sparkling diamond ring.

Since then, de Minaur has grown even closer to Boulter’s home turf. The UK has become his second home, filled with quiet park strolls and tucked-away local spots that offer a break from the buzz of the tour.

“I’ve been quite fortunate that I’ve had a pretty good tour guide with Katie,” de Minaur told ATP Tour. “She’s shown me around the best spots. The grass season has always been one of my favorite seasons in the year and it feels quite good to stay in the same place for the entirety of the season. We definitely do have some of our special areas that we like to keep quiet, because it does tend to get a little bit crazy during that Wimbledon timeline. But yeah, we’ve got enough special areas where we can get our alone time and really enjoy doing what we love.”

As he sets his sights on another deep run at Wimbledon in 2025, building on last year’s quarterfinal finish, having Boulter in his corner and the support of the British crowd only fuel his fire. With love in the air and his game in top gear, de Minaur looks ready to make this Wimbledon run one to remember. Could a fairytale ending be in the cards? Get all the action from the Championships live and uninterrupted on EssentiallySports.