Loved-up Alex de Minaur has credited his tennis-playing girlfriend Katie Boulter for providing a fresh perspective as the Australian prepares for a high-stakes US Open showdown with Daniil Medvedev.
De Minaur and third-seeded Medvedev will clash for a quarter-final berth on Tuesday (AEST) just three weeks after the Spain-based Sydneysider took down the Russian en route to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Toronto.
That quarter-final triumph in Canada was de Minaur's fourth top-10 scalp of the year and came 10 months after he also beat Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion and former world No.1, for the first time in Paris.
One of the most intense competitors on tour, de Minaur says it's no coincidence his tennis is thriving alongside a happy off-court relationship.
The 24-year-old has been dating Brit Boulter since 2020 and the two have become one of tennis's power couples, with both making runs in New York.
De Minaur reckons his partner has taught him not to take defeats too heavily, something he's struggled with in the past.
"A big thing that I admire a lot about Katie is how she acts and how she gets herself up during matches," he said after Boulter bowed out in the third round at Flushing Meadows.
"Her philosophy is something that I envy in a way. She is very positive. She doesn't take tennis matches for granted.
"She doesn't mind the results. She goes out there competing and enjoys herself. I've learned a lot from that.
"To be honest, I'm probably on the other spectrum. I live and die by the sword and matches do hurt me in ways.
"Over the years, I've learned that as much as it hurts in the moment, I can get off the court and the more I spend some time with Katie, we're both able to kind of forget about it and move on.
"And it's helped me a lot to not have to linger with some of these matches. I've been able to turn the page and move on and look forward to the next challenge."
De Minaur's next challenge is a big one.
As well as denying Novak Djokovic the first calendar-year grand slam sweep with a brutal straight-sets mauling in the final two years ago in New York, the Russian also pushed Rafael Nadal to five sets in the 2019 title decider.
Medvedev is unquestionably one of the most formidable hard-court players in the business.
"He's an extreme kind of counter puncher, a defensive specialist who finds ways to bait opponents into playing the game style he wants," de Minaur said.
"He's an extremely good tactician and you know whenever you play him you have got to be ready for an absolute chess battle."
While drawing confidence from his two wins over the world No.3, de Minaur is unsure if they will have an impact on Medvedev in a best-of-five-set tussle.
"I haven't played him in a major yet," the Australian said.
"So this is going to be a new experience for both of us. If anything, it's just going to be a long match.
"I'm sure there's going to be chances both ways. It's about who just sticks around and fights to the end and finds a way.
"I am expecting an absolute battle."
The winner will face either unseeded Brit Jack Draper or Russian world No.8 Andrey Rublev for a semi-final spot.
