THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2022

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/L. Broady

6-3, 6-4, 7-5

THE MODERATOR: Your initial thoughts on the match.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, another tricky match. It's never easy, you know, playing a Brit here. So stoked to get another win, stoked to be in the second week of Wimby.

I'm pretty happy with the position I'm in right now, so hopefully I can keep it going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How do you deal with the pressure of playing a British player? Obviously you have played two now, beaten two at Wimbledon. And, has Katie given you any tips to defeat these players?

ALEX de MINAUR: No (smiling). She tries to stay as neutral as she can.

But no, I just try to look at it as any other match. I go out there, it's just an opponent. Doesn't matter where he's from or anything of the sort. So I've got my game plan, try to stick to my game plan. Sometimes it works; sometimes it doesn't. Last couple days it's kind of worked. Happy with that.

Q. Everyone on the tour says you're the fastest player in the world. Have you always had that speed? Has that always been a weapon? Are you fast in 100 meters or just sort of tennis fast, which is a little bit different?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I don't know, to be honest. When it comes to my speed around the court, it's been a lot of work through the years. Kind of, you know, God gave me the physique I've got. I'm probably not the biggest guy, strongest guy. I had to work different areas of my game to be competitive.

You know, footwork and speed and trying to get out of different positions around the court was always something I've worked really hard on.

And, yeah, to be honest, I probably reckon I'm what you would call tennis fast. I'm probably good around the corners. Good at getting out of tough positions. Good reading the play. I don't know about 100-meter sprint.

Q. Quarter mile?

ALEX de MINAUR: I don't know (smiling).

You know, I back myself in fitness. I have put in a lot of work in that, whether it's speed or just, you know, long-distance running. I have done a lot of that. So I back myself when it comes to fitness in tennis matches.

Q. You have beaten two Brits this week, but are you feeling the love from the crowd? Are you ready to accept the status of honorary Brit this week?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, of course. I'll take any support I can get.

Yeah, it's been obviously tough playing two Brits, but, you know, I've done everything I could. You know, I felt quite a warm welcome. So, you know, I'm just appreciative of that, and hopefully I can keep it going and get an even bigger crowd support next couple of matches.

Yeah, I'll take any support I can get, for sure.

Q. Garin next in the same quarter as Nick. Have you had a chance to look ahead at that?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I'm trying to take it one day at a time. Now I've got Garin. So, yeah, gotta get ready for that. Hopefully I can play another good match and just try to worry about my side of the court, doing the right things. We'll see what happens.

Q. On Thursday Katie Boulter paid tribute to you for the support you've been giving her during the Championships, obviously, a real roller coaster time for her. What's it been like supporting her whilst managing your own progression and what you'd say about her time?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, I think not many people know how strong she is, as a human being, as a character, how she's been able to deal with a lot in her young career. Not only time off, one time she's had to deal with a lot of injuries in her career.

She hasn't been playing nearly as much on tour just because of injuries and other things happening through her life. So I think she's just an incredibly strong person, to be able to come back after all these injuries and still come out and play, you know, probably one of her best grass court seasons to date and just show what she can do on a daily basis is just amazing.

You know, she's had a very kind of taxing grass court season, and you can just tell she gave it 150% and just emptied the tank.

You know, I'm so proud of what she's been able to do. You know, hopefully she can really take this momentum and keep it going for the rest of the year. Hopefully her body stays healthy. I'm sure she'll be doing this week in and week out.

Q. Will you request Court 1 again?

ALEX de MINAUR: I don't think I'm going to have that much power (smiling). I would love to. I'll say it right now: I would do almost anything to play on Court 1, but I have a feeling I might not get that request.

But, you know, if it's possible, I'll cherish every moment. I mean, it's pretty special. I have played all my matches on Court 1, so it's a pretty special feeling. I have grown to really like that court, and hopefully we can keep it going.

Q. First time through to the second week at Wimbledon. It's new, uncharted waters for you. I guess you've thought about what it's going to be like. What do you envisage the biggest challenge being? Is it mentally or physically adapting your game to different opponents?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, look, this has always been a goal of mine for a while now, to try to make second week of slams. Because I feel like I've shown great level throughout the year, but when it came to slams, I kind of haven't shown my best tennis or haven't been able to crack through that kind of first week of slams.

You know, I think just being able to get through week one, that's the biggest thing. Doesn't have to be pretty, doesn't have to be flawless. But, you know, once you're in a second week of a slam, you're getting closer to the goal and you're putting yourself in positions where, you know, now all the stress is out, you can go out there and play and stay loose and, you know, who knows what can happen.

But these are the positions that I've been really trying to get to and put myself out there and just give myself a chance, play against these top guys. You know, who knows what can happen?

Q. This is the first year at Wimbledon without Middle Sunday. What are your thoughts on that tradition going away?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, it's interesting. Times are changing. Yeah, I don't know how it's going to be. Obviously it's going to be my first time. I remember even in juniors how kind of special it was to, on Sunday, being able to just walk around the grounds and, you know, no one being there, it being a ghost town.

So it's going to be quite a different feeling. Obviously I haven't played the second week of Wimbledon, so I haven't experienced it as a pro. So I'll probably just take it as another day. I will have a light hit, and get ready for Monday.

Q. You shared your love for Court 1. A bit has been made about Katie being scheduled on Court 2 today. I know it's out of your guys' control. As her boyfriend, do you think you would have given it up for her today... (Laughter.)

A. I mean, of course. She's a Brit, so I'm sure she would have loved to play on Court 1 or on Centre and get as much support as she could.

But as you have said, it's not in my hands. Look, yeah, I'm sure she would have loved to play on Centre or on Court 1.

Q. Of course it's been a great day for Australia with your victory, Kubler also defeating Sock, and Kyrgios is on later gets Tsitsipas. Is there a good relationship with you all in the locker room?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, and Ajla won today, as well.

Look, it's great. I've had a lot to deal with Kygs over the years, whether it's Davis Cup or ATP Cup. He's always been there. But just to be able to see Kubler doing what he's doing, it's just special.

You know, he's honestly one of the best guys out there. I mean, the attitude he has towards life itself is just surreal. It's second to none.

We've had him in Davis Cup, and honestly I have not seen the guy not be happy any day of his life. It's genuinely just amazing to have him around. I mean, he brings you up. He's the sort of guy that just is always happy, and he's always got a smile on his face. He's enjoying like.

It's great to have him and to see him perform so well. Extremely stoked to have him around. And, you know, I'm going to be hitting with him tomorrow. It should be fun.

Q. What's it like for you and Katie being a couple at Wimbledon? I mean, being quite high profile. What did you do last night? Did you plan how you're going to play today?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, we kind of are pretty good. We are both obviously in the same profession so we kind of know what we can do for each other, as in support. You know, last night, schedule comes out, so we both know who's going to wake up early, who's got to get out of the house early, warm up, everything.

And we've got a pretty good understanding. If I was to play first and she's later on, if I can go out there, win my match, I will be there supporting her later on. She does the same.

So look, I think we understand each other. We're there for each other, which is the biggest thing, win, lose, or draw. That's probably the most important thing.

Q. Filmed by Netflix when you're out in Australia and here at Wimbledon again, I wanted to ask you about that and if you could tell anything about what they are doing here.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think they're just getting a bit more content on all the players. You know, I'm sure it's going to be a real fun documentary or series, as the Formula 1 was.

Hopefully we can have kind of the same effect as the Formula 1 documentary, giving a different insight on all the players that maybe it's lost or portrayed differently. So you get to know kind of each individual player better.

I think that will definitely help get new spectators in and hopefully a different image of the players, a more kind of deeper understanding of what goes through as tennis players and athletes.