Alex de Minaur Donates His Entire Australian Open 2026 Prize Money to Support Cancer Patients — A Powerful Act of Compassion Beyond the Court

Melbourne, 3 February 2026  In the hours after the dust settled on one of the most emotionally charged Australian Opens in recent memory, Alex de Minaur quietly made an announcement that has resonated far beyond the baselines of Rod Laver Arena. The 26-year-old Australian No.

1, who reached his third consecutive quarter-final at his home Slam before falling to world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, revealed that he will donate the entirety of his 2026 Australian Open prize money to organisations supporting cancer patients — with a particular emphasis on young people facing the disease.

De Minaur’s run at Melbourne Park earned him approximately AUD $850,000 (after tax considerations and deductions). Rather than keeping the funds or directing them toward personal or commercial ventures, he has chosen to channel every dollar into cancer care, recovery programmes and long-term support services.

The decision was shared in a short, understated video posted to his Instagram account late Sunday evening, filmed in a quiet corner of the players’ lounge with his fiancée Katie Boulter by his side.

“This isn’t about headlines or handing over money for show,” de Minaur said, looking directly into the camera. “It’s about making sure help actually changes lives. Cancer doesn’t care if you’re a kid, a teenager or an adult — it just takes.

I want every cent of this prize money to go toward giving people — especially young people — a real chance to fight back, to heal, to live.”

The announcement comes at a time when de Minaur has spoken more openly than ever about the personal impact cancer has had on his life. His maternal grandmother battled breast cancer for several years before passing away in 2021, an experience that left a lasting mark on the family.

De Minaur has previously supported breast-cancer awareness campaigns and worn pink ribbons during matches, but this donation represents his most significant and public commitment to the cause to date.

### A Thoughtful, Structured Approach

Rather than writing a single large cheque to one organisation, de Minaur and his management team have worked with medical and charitable advisors to distribute the funds across several carefully selected initiatives:

– **Youth Cancer Services** — A portion will go to specialised adolescent and young-adult oncology programmes at major Australian hospitals, including the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne and Sydney’s Chris O’Brien Lifehouse.

These programmes offer age-appropriate psychological support, fertility preservation counselling, peer mentoring and clinical trials tailored to patients aged 15–25 — a demographic often overlooked in traditional paediatric or adult care models.

– **Family Support Grants** — Funding will help cover out-of-pocket expenses for families with children or teenagers in treatment: travel to specialist centres, accommodation during long hospital stays, educational continuity programmes and mental-health support for siblings.

– **Survivorship and Rehabilitation** — Money will be allocated to post-treatment recovery initiatives, including physiotherapy, nutritional guidance, exercise oncology programmes and career-transition support for young adults who miss crucial years of schooling or early employment due to illness.

De Minaur emphasised that he wanted the donation to be “practical and measurable”. “I’ve asked the organisations to report back — not for publicity, but so we know the money is doing what it’s supposed to do,” he explained in a follow-up interview with Channel Nine.

“If a family can stay close to their child during treatment because of a hotel grant, or if a teenager gets access to a clinical trial that might not otherwise be available, that’s real change.”

### Widespread Praise and Reflection

The response from the tennis community was immediate and overwhelmingly positive. Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated de Minaur in the quarter-finals, posted on Instagram: “Alex is not only one of the best fighters on court — he’s one of the best people off it. Proud to share the tour with you.

” Rafael Nadal shared a simple but powerful message: “True champion in every way. My thoughts and admiration for you and the families you are helping.”

Australian tennis icons also weighed in. Lleyton Hewitt called the gesture “typically Alex — quiet, thoughtful, genuine”. Ashleigh Barty, who retired in 2022 but remains a close friend of de Minaur, wrote: “You lead with your heart, always have. This will mean more than you know.”

Beyond tennis, public figures from other fields expressed admiration. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler described the donation as “a powerful reminder of the human side of elite sport”, while Cancer Council Australia CEO Dorothy Mary Chin noted: “Generosity like this helps fund services that governments alone cannot fully cover.

It gives hope to families at their most vulnerable.”

De Minaur’s decision also sparked broader reflection within the sport. Prize money at Grand Slams has risen significantly in recent years, yet players often face criticism for how (or whether) they give back.

By donating his entire AO earnings — rather than a percentage or a symbolic amount — de Minaur set a new benchmark for personal philanthropy among active players.

### A Personal Motivation

Those close to de Minaur say the decision was not impulsive. Throughout the tournament he spoke frequently about his grandmother’s illness and how it shaped his perspective on resilience and gratitude. “She fought every day with dignity,” he told reporters after his quarter-final loss.

“Watching her taught me that life is bigger than any match or ranking. If I can help even one person feel less alone in their fight, that means more than any trophy.”

Katie Boulter, who has been a constant presence at his matches and a vocal supporter of cancer charities in the UK, played a key role in helping structure the donation.

The couple has quietly supported several causes together, but this is the first time de Minaur has made such a large, public commitment tied directly to a tournament result.

### Lasting Impact

The $850,000 donation is expected to provide meaningful support across multiple programmes. For context: the average cost of a young person’s cancer treatment in Australia (including hospital stays, chemotherapy, radiation and supportive care) can exceed $200,000–$300,000.

De Minaur’s contribution could cover full treatment pathways for several patients or fund dozens of family-support grants, clinical-trial access points and rehabilitation programmes.

As the Australian summer tennis season draws to a close, de Minaur’s gesture stands as a reminder that sport’s greatest legacies are often measured off the court.

He did not win the title in Melbourne this year, but in choosing to turn prize money into hope for others, he reminded everyone what real victory can look like.

In his own words: “Tennis has given me so much. It’s only right to give back — especially to those who are fighting battles much tougher than any match I’ll ever play.”