VIKING INTERNATIONAL

June 25, 2021

Alex De Minaur

Devonshire Park

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/S. Kwon

6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Well done. Another great performance today, through to the final in Eastbourne after a great week in Queen's. Can you just tell us how you're feeling at the moment.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I'm very happy to be playing another final, playing some great tennis on the grass. I really am enjoying myself out there, and hopefully I can play well tomorrow and take it home. I mean, that's the plan.

Q. Another great win. You haven't dropped a set this week off the back of a good run last week at Queen's. What do you think the key is behind the good form on the grass?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I think obviously for me the clay season is always a little bit of a long stint, so I was looking forward to this grass season. I have been playing well, been getting confidence from every match I have won, and I have had a lot of matches under my belt. So all those things kind of helped each other, and I'm able to go out there and play some good tennis.

Q. Obviously there was no grass court season last year, so how excited are you to be going back to Wimbledon?

ALEX de MINAUR: It's special. I mean, as you said, it's going to make this year even more special having missed out last year. With everything that's happened, to be able to go back into the All England Club, it's something unique. I can't wait to step foot in that incredible venue.

Q. Your first grass court final. Your thoughts on that? I mean, obviously it's been a very good grass court season for you. Now to be in a final on the eve of Wimbledon, what does something like this do for your confidence?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, every match win adds a little bit more confidence. You know, it's just about going day by day, playing some good tennis.

I played a quality opponent today and did what I needed to do. We've got one more match tomorrow against, you know, a hell of a competitor who's obviously already won a title on grass, so it's going to be incredibly tough.

It's another challenge for me, another chance for me to go out there and have a swing and do the best I can.

Q. Do you take anything away from when you played him about six months ago, or is it a case of you can't really compare because the conditions are so different from that event to this one?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I'm sure there is a couple things here and there, but for the main part, I would say that it's pretty different conditions, different ways of playing.

For me, Paris was quite slow. Obviously here it's grass. Different movement, different, you know, speed of the courts, so there is a couple of variables that changed.

We'll have to look at the matches he's played this week and come out with a tactic, a game plan, and hopefully I can come out tomorrow and execute it.

Q. If I may just throw it forward, I know you've got your final to think of first, but I see that you have been drawn with Sebastian Korda in Wimbledon's first round. That 16th seeding hasn't provided you with much protection, has it?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, not really, but, look, it is what it is. Obviously Sebi is playing some unbelievable tennis. He's one of the guys of the future. He's going out there, having a swing. Already had a huge impact on the tour, and he's been playing great on grass.

Obviously not ideal draw. It is what it is. But for me I've got my match tomorrow. That's first things first, and then we can go on and sit down and worry about my first-round opponent.

Hey, it is what it is. Obviously, you know, you do what you can to kind of give yourself that seeding, but sometimes it doesn't work out. And that's life.

It's good to go out there and play against a quality, quality opponent. If I can get the win, then it's going to feel even better than if I played another opponent.

Q. The way you're playing, it's more likely that the opponent at the other end is sighing, Oh, God, de Minaur is playing superbly at the moment.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, it works both ways. I'm just worried I'm doing my job here, doing what I can, playing some good tennis. I'm enjoying the grass season, and anything I can do is just a bonus.

I'm just enjoying it out on court and wanting the grass season to be extended as much as I can. So that's the plan.

Q. This being your grass court final, all the previous eight finals in ATPs, they have all been on hard courts, I guess this must feel like a bit of a breakthrough?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah. I have always loved the grass. I have always felt very comfortable on the grass. So it's good to kind of be able to play a final on grass and play for a title tomorrow.

It's going to be very tough. I'm playing an opponent who has already got a title on grass, so he obviously can really play well on this stuff.

Look, it's a chance for me to go out there, see what I can do, challenge myself, and hopefully I can come out and bring the level that I have been bringing all week.

Q. What's a bigger deal for you as far as ranking or this title? Because by reaching the final, both instances it will be a career high. I think you move to 17 by reaching the final, and I think it could be 15 if you actually win. If you could just address that.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah. Look, obviously I think both go hand in hand. A title is always going to feel good and feel like a title is forever. Ranking can change week in and week out. Obviously if I win the title, it helps my ranking, as well.

But as I have said from the start of the year, I have wanted to make 2021 everything 2020 wasn't. For me, 2020 was a disappointing year, and, look, I'm just trying to take it day by day.

I like where I am right now, and, you know, the plan is to continue at this level and see how far I can go.

Q. When you slipped during the match, I think you flexed your ankle a little bit. Was there any element of concern?

ALEX de MINAUR: Initially there was a little bit. There was a little bit of my groin, just awkward. No, the slide, wasn't really expecting it, and it took me by surprise. It kind of -- I felt a little niggle as I did it, but as I kept on going, it was fine.

I finished the match. There's no drama there. I was lucky there. Obviously a little bit of a scare, but it's what you can get on these grass courts. Every now and then, you know, you can slip.

Q. You played a lot of tennis in the last three weeks: quarterfinals, semifinal, final. It's obviously great news that you're doing well. How is your fitness holding up? You look absolutely as though you could run forever, but is your body holding up okay?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, my body is great. Obviously I have had a long clay season which I didn't particularly feel like I played my best, so in my mind, I knew that this grass season I wanted to make the most out of it, and I'm going to completely empty the tank, which means play this week and then hopefully at Wimbledon try to go deep, play best-of-five.

My body's feeling great. I'm going to take some time off after Wimby, so, you know, I'm going to go all out, leave it all out there, do everything I can in this grass court swing and, you know, hopefully after Wimbledon be able to look back and be very happy with my grass court season, my Wimbledon campaign, and I can chill out for a week or two.