AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 20, 2022

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/K. Majchrzak

6-4, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Very solid win today. What do you think worked well for you in the match?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, a very solid win. Came out, did everything I needed to do. Got the job done. Very happy with my effort. You know, it always feels good to get my first win on Rod Laver. It's a special feeling.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. You said at the ATP Cup that you felt you were ready for a big season. Just wondering, what were some of the signs that made you feel that way? Are there any goals you have in mind in terms of ranking or titles?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think one of the things that kind of lets me know that I'm hitting the ball well is practice. Even before the tournament started, all my hits with other players, I was feeling great out there, I was feeling like I was hitting the ball really clean and really feeling comfortable on the court.

So that was probably one of the first signs. Obviously I knew myself that I had put in the hard work, so when you step on the match court, in the back of your head you've got that confidence going in.

Just after that, the results. You know, just to see the results is a huge confi booster.

Ranking-wise, goals-wise, that's probably something that I like to keep very close to myself, my team. I think, and I really think I should be back higher in the rankings, so that's a main goal obviously, and hopefully I can just keep on pushing myself to get higher and higher.

Q. I know you're based much of the year in Spain, but when you come back to Australia, do you feel any extra pressure to sort of really perform well, given that you know it's like a year on the road afterwards and then you have to wait another year until you come back here?

ALEX de MINAUR: I don't think pressure. I think I just thrive from being here at home. It's always a special feeling, and no matter what year, I always play well here. I always play well at home in front of my home fans. I get fired up.

So it's a great time of the year for me, which I'm always looking forward to, and I just think -- look, the more people that I get watching my matches, the more excited I get. That's generally how I feel.

Instead of looking at it as pressure to perform, I see it as, you know, another chance to play in front of my home fans and doing what I love. How could I ever complain about that?

Q. Can you just talk a little bit about why specifically that first win on Laver was so special to you?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, it's a special feeling. You know, biggest court in Australia, home slam. The last match I played there was against Rafa a couple years back, and that was a surreal experience, as well.

For me to be able to play on that court and, you know, at this stage be on my own merits, it's not because I'm playing one of the top guys, that's a pretty cool feeling and to get my first win, so hopefully it's the first of many.