British No1 Katie Boulter was left in awe after her boyfriend, Alex De Minaur, pulled off a rare 'double kiss' shot during his Australian Open match against Andrey Rublev.
Boulter, 27, was in the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena to support De Minaur in the last 16 of the tournament. The match lasted a grueling four hours and 14 minutes, during which Boulter experienced a rollercoaster of emotions.
In the third-set tie-break, with the score tied at 3-3, Rublev appeared to have a stroke of luck when his forehand clipped the net and looped over. However, De Minaur, known for his incredible speed, chased down the ball and kept the rally alive.
As Rublev tried to pass De Minaur at the net, De Minaur made a forehand volley that hit the net and popped up in the air, landing back on the tape before dropping over. Rublev had no chance to return the shot.
De Minaur immediately apologized for the lucky shot, while his friend Nick Kyrgios, commentating on Eurosport, exclaimed, "No! The double kiss… no way!" The TV cameras then cut to Boulter in the stands, who covered her face in disbelief before breaking into a smile and laughter.
Tennis Power Couple
Boulter and De Minaur have been dating for three years and are a power couple in the tennis world. They even played mixed doubles together at Wimbledon in 2023. However, De Minaur recently joked that he would choose to keep his vintage Mini Cooper car over Boulter if he had to make a choice between the two loves of his life.
Despite the disappointment of the match, De Minaur showed his resilience by winning both tie-breaks after dropping the first set. This put him one set away from reaching the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for only the second time in his career.
Unfortunately, Rublev fought back and eventually won the match 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-3, 6-0. He will now face Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals, with the winner potentially going up against ten-time champion Novak Djokovic or Taylor Fritz in the semis.
Boulter continued to support De Minaur throughout the match, showcasing the strength of their relationship both on and off the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a tennis player manage school and training?
It is difficult for tennis players to balance their academic obligations with intense training schedules. It requires excellent time management, prioritization, and often creative scheduling. Online education and flexible academic programs are a great way to accommodate the hectic training and travel schedules that young athletes have. The support of family, coaches, educational institutions, and other stakeholders is also crucial to ensuring that athletes can achieve their athletic dreams without compromising on their education.
How do mental and psychological aspects factor into tennis training?
Mental and psychological preparation is just as important as physical preparation in tennis. Tennis players must learn how to handle stress, focus and the emotional highs or lows that come with competition. Common techniques include visualization, goal setting, and mental rehearsals. A sports psychologist helps players to build resilience, develop strategies for dealing with pressure and raise their mental game.
What type of fitness training is important for tennis players?
Tennis is a physically demanding sport that requires a combination of aerobic endurance, anaerobic fitness, speed, strength, and power. Tennis fitness training involves cardiovascular exercises that improve endurance and strength, plyometrics exercises and explosive movements for speed and power as well as agility exercises designed to improve footwork. Exercises that improve core stability and balance are essential to building the endurance and coordination needed for tennis.
What role plays video analysis in training top tennis athletes?
Video analysis is a critical tool for training and developing top tennis players. It allows detailed reviews of technique, tactic, opponent patterns and match play. Video analysis allows coaches and players alike to review strokes in detail, identify areas for improvement, strategize and plan against future opponents. This helps in recognizing tendencies and habits that might go unnoticed when the competition heats up, which allows for more focused and efficient training sessions.
What does the daily training schedule of a top tennis player look like?
Tennis players have an intense and structured daily routine. It often includes several hours on the court, focusing on technical drills, tactical practices, and match play situations. Aside from fitness training, players also engage in flexibility and recovery sessions, including stretching, massage or physiotherapy. The importance of proper nutrition and psychological coaching is also a key component to ensuring that athletes are able to maintain their peak performance, both mentally and physically.
Statistics
- Nutritionists report that a tennis player’s diet should consist of about 55-60% carbohydrates, 15-20% protein, and 20-25% fats during intense training periods.
- Persistent mental training and sports psychology can help reduce performance anxiety by up to 60%, according to sports psychologists working with elite athletes.
- Strength and conditioning coaches emphasize core strength, noting that an increase in core stability can improve shot accuracy by up to 43%.
- Top tennis players typically train for 4 to 6 hours per day, divided between on-court practice and fitness training.
- On average, it’s estimated that only 1 in 5000 high-level junior tennis players will develop into internationally ranked professionals.
External Links
atptour.com
optimumtennis.net
tenniscompanion.org
wilsontennis.com
myprocoach.net
How To
How to increase endurance for long tennis games
To build endurance during long tennis matches, you need both anaerobic and aerobic training. Start by incorporating longer, moderate-intensity cardio workouts into your routine, like running or cycling, to improve aerobic capacity. Add high intensity interval training (HIIT), in order to develop anaerobic endurance and recover between intense rallies. On the court simulate match conditions with extended baseline rallys and by playing practice matches that emphasize consistency and prolonged points. Include core exercises, since a strong core is essential for endurance on the court. To maintain high levels, you should also pay attention to nutrition and adequate recovery.
