THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 30, 2022

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/J. Draper

5-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Your thoughts on tonight's match.

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I'm just extremely stoked. For me, I see that match as a very high-quality win, you know, against an opponent who has been playing some great stuff, great tennis. He's been inspired.

You know, I definitely saw this as a very dangerous match, and I'm relieved to come through and playing some great tennis and staying tough. You know, just really proud of my performance.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. He was throwing you the kitchen sink in that second set.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, exactly. I think it was everything, just mindset. As you have said, even the first set, you know, he was playing at a very high level, and I just kind of hang in there. I just stuck in. You know, I did what I could. I stayed in there.

Then all of a sudden, I played a great tiebreak, and you could just tell how the whole momentum switched. You know, you could tell he was maybe struggling a bit physically, and I was able to pounce on that.

You know, even though I had a couple of lapses in concentration in the third and the fourth set, you know, I stayed positive, I stayed out there, did what I needed to do, and got the job down.

Q. Next opponent, lowly ranked one, but obviously he will have the crowd on his side. Do you expect him to grow an extra leg?

ALEX de MINAUR: 100%. I know I have done it playing in Oz. Another very dangerous match. Yeah, he's beaten Diego, the seed.

You know, he's obviously playing some great tennis, and I'm just stoked to be where I am right now. So I will cherish tonight. I will have an easy day tomorrow. I will be hopefully ready to go straight back again.

Q. You mentioned Katie straightaway in your interview afterwards. How much of a lift did that give you, watching her match before that? You have been together a while now. How does that dynamic work when you're both playing at the same tournament and you are kind of competing together and pushing each other on?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I think it's amazing. I mean, what she was able to do today was an amazing effort.

I mean, under all the circumstances, you know, she got out there on Centre Court, and beaten last year's runner-up. So I think that's pretty special.

I'm just stoked for her. You know, this is her home slam. She gets to enjoy it. I know she was a little bit nervous going in, but, you know, she's gone out and put on a brilliant performance.

For me, more than anything, I just loved to see her back. You know, I think this is back where she belongs. And, you know, in no time she will be even higher than ever. I think she's got an incredible level, and, you know, she's been showing it all this grass season.

Yeah, I'm very proud of her.

Q. It's been a while since an Aussie won the singles here. We had Ash last year. What are your memories of Lleyton when he was here, and what has he been able to pass on to you that have been able to maybe help?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think Lleyton's been a huge help. You know, he's been someone I have looked up to as well as, you know, I'm sure a whole generation of Aussies.

Just to have him as my Davis Cup coach, mentoring me, helping me out whenever, coming out to these matches, is just a special feeling, for sure.

Look, I have heard a lot about the year he won it. You know, basically you've just got to hang in there, hang in there as much as you can, stay tough. If you can get yourself to a second week, you know, anything can happen.

So that's what I've been trying to do. So just a step closer today.

Q. I just wanted to get your thoughts on the ATP's interesting decision to allow some on-court coaching to happen in some matches coming up this season.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think I'm probably, I would say, against it, just because of, you know, sure, it is tough being a tennis player and being out there by yourself, and, you know, having to problem-solve all the time.

But we also, you know, we talk about how tough this sport is and how mentally tough all the players are, because they are out there alone. So I feel like if we allow coaching, we are kind of losing on that, you know, the mental toughness side of things.

I'm sure as well a lot of players would love to know what to do in sort of moments, but I think you're eliminating one of the aspects of the game that makes tennis so rare and special. You know, there is not that many sports out there that are individual sports.

I mean, the closest one you're kind of probably getting to is boxing, but then boxing you've got, you know, once a round finishes, you've got, you know, a little bit of chat here and there.

So I think it's special. I think what tennis is special in that aspect. I would probably rather keep it that way.

Q. Talk about hanging in there, making a second week, rankings-wise you'd be a favorite. How exciting is that prospect of getting there?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, it's exciting. Just being here. I mean, I felt like this win was a big win for me.

Just because I have had a couple of tough matches that kind of haven't gone my way, I have been trying to do the right thing. So this is a great win for general morale, you know, a boost that I think I needed.

So hopefully I can take this win and start, you know, relaxing a little bit more, playing a bit more freely and really believing in myself.