AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 14, 2023

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, Alex. You're coming off probably your biggest win in your home city of Sydney against Rafa at the United Cup. Talk a little bit more about that and how the preparation for the Australian Open has gone last week.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, it's been a couple great weeks for me, great way to start the year. I've been here now for probably over a week. I've been practicing, getting used to the conditions. It's been a couple hot days. I've had a lot of high-level practice. Looking forward to starting on Tuesday.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Back 12 months ago, where is the improvement in your game in the last 12 months?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think, like, my whole career, I've been improving gradually. Like, day by day I try to keep improving on myself.

But I'm probably going to say physically and probably belief-wise. I think for a while now I've had the level that I know I can take it to these top guys.

Just recently I've had those wins to kind of back that and give me that confidence to know that I can do that often. I'm happy with where my level's at, where I'm at. Hopefully I get more chances to play against these top guys and take it to 'em.

Q. You've been No. 1 over the past couple of years, Australian No. 1. Nick is there at the moment. Does that recognition of being No. 1 matter at all?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think ultimately I'm just happy if Australian tennis is doing well. I mean, we made the final of Davis Cup in both the men's, then the final at the Billie Jean King Cup.

Ultimately, if you look at the bigger picture as Aussies, the more Aussies we can have in the top hundred, playing the slams and really pushing each other just to get as close as we can as we once were as a nation.

I mean, this nation has such a rich culture and history in tennis. I think we're just going in the right direction. It's good to see we're all competitive. Whenever any Aussie does well, it's great for the whole country.

Q. Nick is a walking headline. There's a lot of hoopla around him. Very little splits you guys in the rankings. Do you prefer that kind of low-key, I don't know, preparation and the like? Do you like to just kind of do your own thing without all the, I don't know, social media?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think ultimately that's been me my whole career. I'm out there and I'm just trying to work on myself, try to keep improving. I've got my goals.

Ultimately what I want to achieve in life is to get the most out of myself, the most I possibly can. That way I can finish my career and be satisfied with the effort and the work I've put in ultimately.

But, you know, I just take things how it is. I'm a very chilled guy. I'm easy with whatever happens. I enjoy playing here in Oz. The crowds are always amazing. I'm looking forward to another chance of doing that very soon.

Q. What do you see as your potential still within the sport? From where you are now, what do you see yourself being capable of?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, I want to see myself at the top. I think there's no secret on that. I do believe that I've got the level to get there.

I think right now it's just a matter of confidence and self-belief. I think there's a very interesting kind of era of tennis coming up with a lot of chances and opportunities.

I sure as hell want to be one of those guys that's at the top of the game week in and week out. That's where I want to be.

Q. In terms of getting to that position, you're a guy who is very fast around the court. You can play great counterattacking tennis. You also hit the ball hard at times. What do you think is going to be the best formula for you to get to where you want to go? Is it going to be as a counter-puncher who can soak it up or are you going to need to always be trying to take over opponents?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I've done a couple tweaks here and there over the off-season. I think ultimately against these top guys, you got to take it to 'em. You can't kind of give them the chance on their racquet. A lot of the time that's probably the main thing.

Yeah, I definitely have to take it to 'em, be more aggressive, and really just stamp my authority on the court.

Q. As an Australian top player, one year after what happened with Djokovic, how do you see the whole story from an Australian point of view? Also, what do you think about Craig Tiley's comments that if people don't behave, they get kicked out of the stadium?

ALEX de MINAUR: I think as a tennis player and looking as a competitor, it's great to have him at the tournament 'cause ultimately, at any event you're playing, you want to be playing against the best. You don't want to be winning a tournament or winning matches when you're not playing against the best 'cause it takes away the merit.

I think it's great to see him back here. He's had a great welcoming in Australia. It's great to see.

Q. I saw Katie was in qualifying the other day. I want to ask about your relationship. How supportive has she been for you over the last 12 months or so?

ALEX de MINAUR: Oh, yeah, she's amazing. Yeah, I guess it's the beauty of us being both in the same sport. We kind of understand each other. We know what to expect, how we can help each other in certain situations.

Tennis is a very stressful lifestyle, as it is. It's always great to have a partner that you can kind of count on, help you out here and there. It works both ways. I'm there to help her when she needs it.

We kind of know what to say in certain situations 'cause we're in the same world, which is always good.

Q. You mentioned before about the exciting year of tennis coming up. When do you expect that to start? Is it now or still a little while away?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, I think it's already started. If you look back at last year, the results will show that. I think it's already started.

I think this year's going to be another chance and another opportunity for many more new players to stamp their authority, put their mark on tennis, and reach the top of the game.

Q. Your first-round opponent. You said you don't like to look further afield than that. How do you see your first-round matchup?

ALEX de MINAUR: He's obviously playing some good tennis. He's qualified, making his debut. He'll probably have not much to lose. It's going to be a tough, tough match.

What I've got to do is focus on my side of the court and try to bring as much energy and intensity as I can, and really try to take it to him early stages.

I've been playing some great tennis. The level's there. I feel fresh physically and mentally. Hopefully come Tuesday, first point, I'm ready to go, fired up, trying to get the crowd involved.