VIKING INTERNATIONAL

June 24, 2021

Alex De Minaur

Devonshire Park

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/V. Pospisil

6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: It was getting a bit colder tonight. Can you tell us about that win over Vasek.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, extremely happy. As you said, completely different conditions. Got very cold out there, so very happy I was able to put in a very tidy performance against a quality player.

Q. This has been a really good grass court season for you, back-to-back semifinals as well as a quarterfinal. Can you just talk about that aspect and the way everything is going right now?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, very happy. Obviously this is a part of the season which I look forward to every single year, and I feel like I have been able to gradually improve and play better and better tennis.

Very happy with where my game is at. You know, obviously the big goal is always going to be to try and go as deep as I can at Wimby.

Q. You've got your 16th seed.

ALEX de MINAUR: I did. I ended up sneaking it through with a bit of luck, but, hey, I'm going to take it. You know, I get another free hit this week and next week. Hopefully I can really take advantage of that and try to play some good tennis and put myself in positions where I want to be deep in Grand Slams.

Q. Wondered whether you could talk a little bit about Max Purcell, who has also reached the semifinals. A surprise to himself and a surprise to all of us, I think.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, Max is a very talented player. He's always been. I grew up with him and he's, from very young, won a challenger early.

Look, he's been playing a bit of doubles as of recently, but, you know, he wants to be playing more and more singles. He's been having a hell of a week playing some great tennis and deserving to be where he is now.

Q. Can we look forward to an all-Australian final, do we think?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I've got to focus on my side of the court and my semifinals tomorrow against Kwon. Look, I'm going to do everything I can to put myself in that position to be in the final tomorrow, the day after, but it's going to be another tough match. I've got to try and bring my best level.

Q. I know you can't get ahead of yourself, but it is a great run, Queen's and now Eastbourne. Are you playing the best grass court tennis of your career?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, this has always been a part of the season which I have loved and I looked forward to. I feel like I have played some of my best tennis. I feel like last grass season I didn't perform the way I wanted to, so it's good to kind of show what I can do on this surface.

Q. What is it exactly that you're doing differently, do you think? In what way are you improving at the moment?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think a bit of everything. Mentally I think I'm staying in the moment. I'm doing what I need to do.

I'm playing some tidy tennis. Not doing anything special. Just taking every match as it comes and trying to play the way I need to tactically and try to expose my opponents' weaknesses.

I feel like I have been able to do that well, and I'm enjoying my time on the grass.

Q. The 16th seeding, can you explain, you know, why that is so much of an advantage? In a sense, in theory, it gives you extra protection, doesn't it, basically, at the start of the tournament?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, at the end of the day, nothing trumps playing well. So, you know, if you don't play well, you're not going to go deep.

But being a top-16 seed at least means that, say, third round, if I do make it to third round, I will play someone that's got a worse ranking than me, which is obviously always better than playing someone who could potentially be top 10.

Q. What are your thoughts on playing Kwon? You have not faced him before, but obviously he must be playing well to also reach the semis. His ranking is 77, and it shows he's no slouch on the court.

ALEX de MINAUR: 100%. Look, he's playing with a second wind obviously, being a Lucky Loser. He's got nothing to lose, so that's what makes him even more dangerous. He's a very tidy opponent. Very solid from both wings.

Look, I'm going to try and have to play my game tomorrow, not get sucked in into his, and I'm ready for another very tough match.