Power couple Boulter and De Minaur enjoying spotlight

KATIE BOULTER finds herself as one half of the Kate and Wills of the Australian tennis season, and admits it is taking some getting used to.

The British No 1 has been the subject of huge interest because of her longstanding relationship with Alex de Minaur, who has become the first man from the host nation to make the world’s top 10 since Lleyton Hewitt.

Since arriving before Christmas, she has become accustomed to more attention and getting the paparazzi treatment, more than she might even get around the time of Wimbledon.

‘It’s definitely been fun to be a part of because it’s been a little bit of a circus, but a good circus,’ said Boulter, who in the first round will meet China’s Yue Yuan.

‘I can’t walk down the street with him separately. I feel like I’m sharing him with everyone, which isn’t a bad thing. It’s awesome that he’s getting the attention that he really does deserve. He’s put the work in for it. He’s playing some of the best tennis of his life.

‘It fills me with a lot of pride to watch him at this moment because I know everything that he’s been through, how strong he is with everything he does.

‘He’s really rubbed off on me in so many different ways, the way he holds himself, the way he works.

‘Having his expertise, it’s great for me because it’s a support. It’s someone I can talk to about anything, including everything to do with my career.

‘To have that extra support, it does make a huge difference and I feel like it’s showing.’ The couple (right) now have a home together in London and were training together in Alicante prior to heading south for the opening leg of the season.