CINCH CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 16, 2021

Alex De Minaur

Queens Club

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/J. Millman

6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. How difficult is it to play someone like John who you're so close to? This was the third time you had played him, third time you'd beaten him. I guess facing another Australian is never easy.

ALEX de MINAUR: No, it's never easy. You know, as you said, I'm very close to Johnny, so I want him to do as well as possible and would have loved for him to be on the other side of the draw and go deep.

In a way, it also brings a certain level of respect towards the match. In some ways, it actually helps me. I can kind of tell myself to be more focused and try to worry about my side of the court more.

You know, I think I handled that very well today. I'm very happy with my performance.

Q. Are you feeling totally comfortable after a couple of matches on the grass?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah. I mean, it's a surface that I feel like I adapt pretty quickly to. I have gotten in two good wins here, so, look, it's a work in progress. I'm getting better every week. I'm just enjoying this part of the season, that's for sure.

Q. It looked as though you really felt at home on the grass. How much of a relief is it or a release after a long slog on the clay to actually get onto a surface which you appear at least to look more comfortable on?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, as you said, it's a surface which I look forward to every year. It's a part of the season which I love. So, yeah, it just feels great.

Even if results aren't the best, morale is always better because I'm enjoying every time I'm stepping out on court, and I feel like it suits my game quite nicely.

Look, it's just that part of the season. I get to enjoy it, I get to play on the grass, especially when there is such great weather like we have had the last couple of days here in London, and I'm enjoying my time on court.

Q. Do you really fancy your chances here this week?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I'm just happy to be in the quarterfinals. I have got a very tricky and tough match coming up.

I'm playing well. We'll see what happens in a couple days' time, but, look, if I can play my best tennis, there's always a chance.

I'm going to try and stay focused, try and bring my best tennis every time I step on court, and we'll see what happens.

Q. Can I ask about John. You say he's been a great friend of yours and it's not always easy to beat a friend and everything. Is he anywhere near 100%, do you think, after his injury in Roland Garros? Do you think he's still struggling a little bit after that?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, it doesn't matter who you are. It's been a while since he's played some matches. It's never easy to come back. I'm sure he didn't play his best match or the match he would have loved to play today.

You know, he's coming back from injury, so it's going to take time. I'm hoping the body has pulled up all good and he can just, you know, give his matches and hopefully go very deep at Wimby.

Q. You did mention on court that you had been playing him at golf. You were diplomatic about that. You did win that, I take it, the golf as well as the tennis?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, the thing that we have in golf, especially with me, I am about as up and down as you can imagine a golfer to be, amateur golfer to be. I have my purlers, my great days, which I reckon I'm going to go sign on to PGA Champions Tour when I'm done with tennis, and I've got times where I'm like, Why do I even get out on the golf course?

We have played a couple of times. Honestly, he's very consistent. He brings the same level every time. Yeah, it depends on what Alex comes to the golf course that day.

Q. Did you win or not? Come on.

ALEX de MINAUR: I got him with a couple shots to go, yes. I got him. You got it out of me.

Q. When you do play against Mills or any of the others, what are you playing for? Dosh, dinner, what?

ALEX de MINAUR: Golf? Normally it's dinner. We haven't had a game yet for cash, because that would definitely bring a lot more nerves into it, a lot more trash talk. We haven't had that one yet.

But hopefully maybe we will be able to get maybe like a four-way between some of the tennis teammates, Aussie teammates, and we can put up some cash and have some good trash talk.

Q. When you say there are days when you feel you could, once tennis is done, you could get on the PGA and all, was one of those days during that lockdown period in Spain and you were on the balcony putting and getting into cups? Was that one of those days?

ALEX de MINAUR: So when the ball actually went in the cup, yeah, sure, I thought I was Tiger out there. You've also got to think I spent hours and hours hitting the same chip, which I'm not too sure if I'm ever gonna make it.

Actually, I enjoy it a lot. It's always been a hobby of mine. It's one of those things that I just enjoy. I enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy the serenity of being at a golf course, the greenery. It just always keeps me, you know, peace of mind. It's always a good feeling.

Q. When you were doing that courtside interview, you were obviously drenched in sweat so your shirt was sticking to you. Do you have a tattoo on your left chest? Is it like the number of player you are on the Davis Cup team?

ALEX de MINAUR: Exactly. I've got 109 tatted on my chest, on my heart. That's a tattoo I got after making my debut for Davis Cup, and it's my Davis Cup number. I'm the 109th player to represent Australia for Davis Cup.

That was obviously one of the most important moments in my life, and that's my one and only tattoo.

Q. Probably the last one?

ALEX de MINAUR: The only exception I will make is if we win a Davis Cup title. That's the only exception I will make. I don't know yet. I'm not solved, but if that's the case, that would be a good enough reason.

Q. And not even the Olympic rings like Jordan Thompson has or anything like that?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, there is a couple people there that have it. I don't think I will get that myself. You know, for me, Davis Cup has always been a huge party and a huge moment for me, so anything Davis Cup-related will always have priority in my heart.

Q. A question about your tennis, getting back to reality, where do you feel you are at the moment? Is it a matter that you're working on some specifics still, or is it a matter of just keeping that level momentum, the tuning going?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, I don't think I'm at my best moment of the year, but I think I'm getting there. I think I'm gradually -- every match I can get under my belt builds that confidence.

I played a very good match today, a level that I think I haven't brought in a while, so I'm very happy with that. You know, I'm just about keeping this level going, progressing, because I want to be certain places. I'm definitely not relaxing or not happy where I am right now. I want to keep on pushing. You know, for that to happen, I've got to win more matches, play better tennis, keep pushing myself. So that's the plan.