Katie Boulter avoids Andy Murray's wedding ring mistake ahead of US Open

Katie Boulter has announced that she will not follow her former idol Andy Murray’s example when it comes to keeping her wedding ring safe, after marrying Australian world number seven Alex de Minaur last summer. The British 30‑year‑old said, “I learned from Andy. I’m not going to do that. I don’t wear it. Not during matches.” Boulter’s marriage to the 27‑year‑old Australian took place in July, and she has already returned to the tennis circuit ahead of the US Open.

The couple celebrated their union with a small, private ceremony in England before hosting a larger reception in Tuscany, Italy. Boulter told BBC Sport that the UK event was “like eight people – very, very small, very much for my grandpa,” while the Italian celebration “had all of our closest people, all of our friends, and was a little bit more of a party and a lot of fun.” She also described de Minaur’s speech as “amazing” and said she “was crying the whole time,” adding that the speeches left her in tears for about three hours.

Boulter’s return to competition is already underway. She lost in the first round of both Washington and Toronto before exiting in the second round of Cincinnati. “I actually just chose to go straight back into the conditions, go into the deep end and see what we’ve got,” she said. “I do think the conditions in the States are very different from the UK. I think you can’t really replicate them. So I felt like I’d be a little underprepared coming to the US and just getting used to the conditions again would have been quite difficult.” Boulter’s US Open opener will be against American wildcard Carol Young Suh Lee, who is ranked 143rd worldwide.

The tournament also marks a milestone for British tennis. Four players – Fran Jones, Harriet Dart, Harry Wendelken and Toby Samuel – have all qualified for the main draw, the first time since the 1988 Australian Open that four Britons have progressed through qualifying at an overseas Grand Slam. Jones won her final qualifying match 6‑4 6‑1 over Taiwan’s Joanna Garland, while Dart edged out 2‑6 6‑4 6‑1 against Poland’s Magda Linette. Wendelken secured his spot by defeating Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas in a three‑set thriller, and Samuel advanced after Chile’s Cristian Garin retired during a rain‑delayed match. Jacob Fearnley, a lucky loser, will face Spain’s Martin Landaluce after losing to Austria’s Jurij Rodionov.

All five British qualifiers will join compatriots Arthur Fery, Cameron Norrie, Jan Choinski and Boulter in the main draw. Wendelken will meet Italian seed Luciano Darderi in the first round, Samuel will take on Czech Tomas Machac, and Jones will face his opponent in the opening round. Meanwhile, Heather Watson missed out on a main‑draw appearance after losing to Dart in the qualifiers, and Dart will meet American Peyton Stearns in her first‑round match.

Andy Murray’s own ring mishap, which occurred during a practice session in California in 2021, serves as a cautionary tale for Boulter. The former Grand Slam champion left his trainers – with the ring still attached – under a car to dry out, only to discover the ring was missing the next day. After an appeal, he was reunited with both the trainers and the ring. Boulter’s decision to avoid wearing her ring during matches reflects both respect for Murray’s experience and a practical approach to competition.

The US Open, opening on Sunday, will see Boulter and her fellow British players navigate the hard‑court conditions and a field that includes top‑seeded players from around the world. Boulter’s focus remains on returning to peak form after her wedding, while the broader British contingent looks to build momentum from a strong qualifying run.