“We’re able to help each other in a lot of different aspects in our games, which has created a great environment for both of us to keep pushing each other to improve,” de Minaur told this masthead in March.
“Katie’s helped me find perspective within tennis matches, and within losses, on how to deal with that side of things and not get too down on myself. I’ve always liked how she’s gone about her business, and how she doesn’t let any result define her. That’s something in the past that was tough for me to deal with.
Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter are one of tennis’ “it” couples.Credit: Getty Images
“She’s finally believing in herself and the level she’s got, which everyone knew she had in her – and it’s great to see her [achieving] results and playing some great tennis.”
Tennis coupling is becoming more common, with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Paula Badosa; Jannik Sinner and Anna Kalinskaya; Elina Svitolina and Gael Monfils; and Katerina Siniakova and Tomas Machac among the other high-profile tour duos.
De Minaur’s reference to the impact Boulter has had on his tennis mindset was not an empty one.
He enjoyed his best season last year and has gone to another level in 2024, breaking into the top 10 for the first time in January after taking three such scalps, including world No.1 Novak Djokovic, at the ATP Cup.
De Minaur’s Libema Open title came hot on the heels of him upsetting Daniil Medvedev on his way to the Roland-Garros quarter-finals, as he wasted no time switching from the clay to his more preferred grass.
De Minaur clinched the title over Korda on his fourth championship point, two games after his first two opportunities, having also failed to serve the match out a game earlier – and with rain starting to tumble.
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Korda is the son of 1998 Australian Open tennis champion Petr and brother of star golfers Nelly and Jessica.
A relieved de Minaur said he was thrilled to win a second grasscourt title behind his 2021 Eastbourne triumph, only weeks out from Wimbledon, where he will be one of the favourites to make a deep run.
“Obviously, it was a great match, [with] tricky conditions,” he said. “Seb is a hell of a player, and I’m looking forward to playing doubles with him next week at Queen’s. I’m super happy with the win, it’s been great, and happy days.
“It achieves a new career high for me, so that’s always a great little bonus and [my] first week on grass couldn’t have gone any better, so I’m looking forward to next week in Queen’s, and the whole grasscourt season with a smile on my face.
“I’m glad I was able to get a win here in Holland.”
De Minaur did not drop a set all tournament, with Milos Raonic and Ugo Humbert among his other high-quality victims.
His aggressive mindset repeatedly placed Korda under pressure, while he terrorised the exasperated American with his stout defence and a series of lobs that Lleyton Hewitt would have been proud of.
De Minaur’s Roland-Garros performance propelled him back inside the top 10 to No.9, but the ’s-Hertogenbosch title will see him leapfrog Hubert Hurkacz and Casper Ruud to climb another two spots.
To put that into perspective, dual grand slam finalist Mark Philippoussis’ best ranking was No.8, while Hewitt and Pat Rafter are the only Australian men to have achieved a higher ranking than him this century.
De Minaur will need another strong week at the Queen’s Club Championships to remain at his new ranking, given he lost the final to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz last year, but he is in a great position to earn a top-eight seeding at Wimbledon, which starts on July 1.
Alex de Minaur has started the grasscourt season in style after a run to the quarter-finals at the French Open (pictured).Credit: AP
He is making a habit of going deep at almost every event he plays.
De Minaur also reached the final in Rotterdam and the quarter-finals in Monte-Carlo in what is shaping as a statement year on tour. He is ranked sixth in the Race to Turin, where the eight best-performed men will compete in the end-of-year Tour Finals.
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The Sydneysider seemed headed for an even earlier finish when he stormed to a set and 2-0 lead on the back of six consecutive games before Korda broke him back against the flow to threaten to make a contest of the final.
But the sweet-striking Korda struggled in most of his service games and that proved his downfall against de Minaur, one of the tour’s great returners.
The world No.26 dropped serve five times and won only 55 per cent of first-serve points, and twice had to stave off championship points at 5-2 down in the second set.
Korda hung on and continued to fight, with a thunderous forehand stopping de Minaur from serving the match out and presenting him the chance to tie the second set at five-all.
He took a medical time-out for a blister then won his first point back on court with a ’tweener, but he was soon in trouble again – and this time de Minaur converted his opportunity.
De Minaur is the No.2 seed behind Alcaraz at Queen’s, with Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti his first-round foe. Countryman Jordan Thompson faces No.7 seed Holger Rune in his opener.
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