AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2022

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/L. Musetti

3-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Well done today. Do you feel the condition is something different today after the evening comes? How did you make it in your game and get back?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, obviously very happy with my win today, but, yeah, different conditions. As the sun goes down today, felt quite cool, a little bit of a breeze, cold breeze going in, so it made it quite different conditions to maybe playing during the day.

It was a couple of things we needed to adapt mid match, and I was able to kind of do what I needed to do to turn that match around and be into the second round. So very happy with that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Obviously you started the match well and then obviously he got on top for probably 15 minutes or so before you reestablished control. What do you feel happened there? Is it just that he's shown he can be dynamic and that he just sort of had a purple patch for a while?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think it was a little bit of both. Obviously I had a double breakpoint, which he came up with a ridiculous shot and I wasn't really able to get that double break. Then the next game I had a game point and he just freed up. As a lot of people, once you're losing, you kind of tend to go bigger.

So he found a little bit of a purple patch. I might have dropped my level a little bit, and, yeah, there went the first set.

But for me, the most important thing was my attitude. You know, that was what won me the match today. I was positive throughout the whole match. Didn't let anything get in my head, and I just kept on going.

I was playing every point for its merit, and eventually things started to go my way and I was able to take control.

Q. Obviously at the French when he was all over Novak early, when the wheel turned he did drop away a little bit. Were you conscious of the fact he's young and if you got on top you might be able to basically take control of the match?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I'm cautious of myself as a competitor, as well. I feel like if I'm on top and I'm focused and determined and trying to win every point, I can be a very difficult opponent to kind of beat, and especially, you know, when I'm staying tough.

So I had that in the back of my head. I knew I needed to start the sets well and hopefully get that early break in. But, yeah, just happy with my level all around.

Q. One of the good news stories of the day was Sam Stosur and her result. Could you speak to any memories you may have of Sam throughout her career, especially growing up as an Aussie who led through a pretty tough time and what your relationship might be like with Sam.

ALEX de MINAUR: Funnily enough, I actually as a kid hit with Sam maybe once or twice in Sydney, and I could remember, you know, those days. I think we might have hit maybe on hard once and on clay out in Homebush.

Obviously, you know, she's always been an incredible competitor and kind of role model. You know, I remember even back then me being a little kid, a little junior, she was very nice to me.

Q. The ATP Cup, how much confidence you took out of that. Obviously the strong win over Berrettini and then to come from behind against Humbert, obviously two different wins, winning those, how much confidence has it given you?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, that gives me a lot of confidence. We had a tough group at the ATP Cup, and we were very close to getting through.

You know, we played some great tennis, I especially stepped up when I needed to, and, you know, had quality wins against Berrettini and Humbert. Humbert is one of the biggest ball strikers, especially in an indoor court. You know, in fact that match was huge for me, because it actually got me the last seeding for this week, so it gave me a little bit of protection in that sense.

Lots of confidence to take out of that. Very tough preseason. It's always good to see things going well.