VIKING INTERNATIONAL

June 26, 2021

Alex De Minaur

Devonshire Park

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/L. Sonego

4-6, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Massive congratulations. Can you just talk about that amazing final and what pulled you through in the end.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, I had to pull through all my mental strength I had. I had to tell myself to try and be a bit more aggressive and go to win that match, not just wait there for my opponent to lose it, because he was definitely not going to do that.

Very happy I was able to play more aggressive in the important points and stay in there, because it wasn't an easy match. Happy to have gotten my fifth title.

Q. Congratulations. The emotions that you're feeling, while it's obviously very satisfying, it's your first grass court title, that's obviously got to give you a boost for next week, and a new career-high ranking, as well. Address those sort of points if you would, please.

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I think more than excitement or, you know, just being happy, my first emotion is relief. I mean, relief for finally getting these results, the results I have wanted, and obviously, you know, ecstatic that I have been able to pull through and play some great tennis.

You know, this gives me exactly what I wanted to do come this week, play some good tennis, get ready for Wimby. And, you know, even though I have had an unbelievable week here, I kind of have to switch the mindset real quick to Wimby now.

Q. Obviously there is no rest for the wicked, because you're going to be playing on Monday. You've got Sebastian Korda. Now that Eastbourne is out of the way and you look to Wimbledon, what are your thoughts on playing Korda?

ALEX de MINAUR: Ah, he's a hell of a player. I mean, he's been showing that he can play on every surface. Especially lately on grass he's put up some very high-quality wins. It's going to be an incredibly tough match.

Look, I'm looking forward to the challenge. You know, it's going to be a tough match. We're both going to go out there and just do our best, have a battle, have a little bit of a war out there, and we'll see who comes out victorious.

Q. Well done today. Just going back to your match yesterday, that amazing point where, in the tiebreak, you somehow didn't go over the net. How did you sort of contort your body not to fall over? Was your biggest concern for your feet or your upper body? Did you know it was okay to reach over the net to help regain balance?

ALEX de MINAUR: I wasn't sure if, and I still to this day, I'm not too sure if I can go over the net and use kind of the racquet to push off, but my biggest concern was obviously not touch the net.

So I kind of did everything I could to stop my forward momentum and, you know, I somehow didn't touch the net and managed to win that point, a big point for me in the tiebreak, and it made all the difference.

Q. Congrats. I would like to know, how important was the match of the last week with Berrettini? Because of course Lorenzo is not Matteo but is still strong serve and he push a lot with the forehand, so maybe it helps that match today to you?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, every match has helped me confidence-wise and strategy-wise. You know, every match I play I take little things what I could have done better, what I want to do next time I'm in that same position. And, you know, for example, today, even though there were very tight moments in the match, I had to tell myself to be aggressive and go for it, because if not, then, you know, Lorenzo today was going to dictate with his forehand and I probably wasn't going to win those points.

I had to learn from my previous matches that if I play the big points and just try to make balls, it's not enough. I have to go to win the match, and that's what I did today. So very happy.

Q. Well done. The confidence that a win like this gives you going into Wimbledon, could you talk more about that? There is no reason, if you play that way, that you can't be one of the favorites.

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, my goal is always to try to go as deep as I can at Wimby. It's one of my favorite tournaments, one that I definitely circle every year in the calendar, and I love playing on this surface.

You know, the grass has been good to me so far. Now I've got to do everything to recover and make sure I'm ready for my very tough first-round match.

That's everything that's in my mind, and then, you know, just go day by day. I haven't gotten here thinking about the future or where I could be. I have taken every day as it comes, try to get better, try to keep improving each day, and with that mentality is, you know, just what makes me be able to play good tennis week in and week out and also get the best out of myself.

Q. What is it about the English summer? You look like a different man. I was watching you slogging around in one of the European clay courts and looking hang-dog, and it was hard work and it was a slog, but it looks like you have a real spring in your step. Coming to England has really sort of rejuvenated you?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, it's a part of the season which I thoroughly love. I love the grass court season. I reckon it suits my game very nicely.

Obviously I've got a lot to improve for the clay court swing. I still believe I can do way, way better, but that's a work in progress. It just, in a way, kind of gives me a big boost once I step on the green stuff and, you know, I know that it's kind of my time of the year where I can try and get the most out of myself.

Q. First of all, congratulations. Well done. You were attacking most of the time, so you were more aggressive and taking more initiatives. Probably is the key that took you to win. I'd like to ask you something about Sonego. What do you think is his strength, is the biggest, I don't know, shorter, that he has? You were insisting a lot on his backhand, of course. That was his weak point. But do you see him doing well in the next Wimbledon? Do you think he has a good chance to go farther up?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, well, he's obviously already won a title on grass, so he plays really well on this surface. I'm going to give you three things that I think Lorenzo is exceptional at. I think he's an exceptional competitor, fighter. Amazing attitude. Will always leave it out there. I think he's got a great forehand, very good. And he hides backhand, which is his weakness, very, very well, running around and using his footwork very well. And his serve. You know, he's got a very big serve to look for that forehand, and, you know, on the grass and on, you know, every surface he's been able to play some great tennis. He's a quality, quality opponent.