ROLAND GARROS

May 29, 2023

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/I. Ivashka

6-1, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: Congrats, Alex. You must be very satisfied with your first round here today.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, very happy. Thought it was a good match. A tiny lapse in concentration, but I was able to kind of get my head back where it needed to be and play the tennis I needed to play to get the win today. Happy with that.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. After winning that first set so comfortably, did you have a little bit of a letdown? Because you did have chances in the second set, as well. I think there were a couple of breaks. Was it just a bit of a letdown? What happened?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think a little lapse in concentration, and I kind of deviated from the way I needed to play or the way that got me to that position. So I think, you know, I think I had a set point is all. I just was a bit passive at that stage.

Look, it was a little bit of a letdown, but I was very happy how I was able to kind of switch the mentality back in the third set and play the way I wanted to. Happy it didn't cost me more than just a set.

Q. You talked about that mindset and how you've been working on it and accepting that sometimes on clay things will not always go your own way. Is it a different matter when you get to a Grand Slam, though? Does it feel bigger here to make sure that you've got that positivity about yourself?

ALEX de MINAUR: 100%, and I think everything counts a little bit extra. Yeah, you're in those positions, and even though everything looks very calm and easy and never is, especially on clay, in a split instance, everything can change. It can get frustrating at times. It's important to be as chilled out as you can and kind of move on.

That's what I think I did. I was a little bit vocal in the second set, the end of the second set. And part of what I think changed the whole match was just me kind of being a little bit more quiet and just focused and going about my own business. And it worked out.

Q. One of my British colleagues said he thought he saw you out for a run this morning. Was that right?

ALEX de MINAUR: No.

Q. Because it sounded strange.

ALEX de MINAUR: I have been doing plenty of runs the week prior and any other week probably, but not this morning, no (smiling).

Q. He did say he thought it was an odd way to warm up for your match.

ALEX de MINAUR: That would have been a nice little story, yeah? (Laughing.) I wish it was true.

Q. I just have a different question. We all know how tough it is to make it as a top tennis player. Were there any kids that you trained with when you were young who you expected to make it who didn't?

ALEX de MINAUR: That's a great question. I think, you know, along the way I have trained with a lot of guys my age, and I've gone through different tournaments and different stages of tournaments. I mean, you kind of see all the way from under 10s, under 12s, the tennis Europe tournaments, the ITFs, the futures, the challies and now here.

Look, there are different players that succeeded a little bit more earlier rather than later. But the way I always saw it was my goal was it was more the end result. That's what I cared about.

Look, I knew from a young age that there were times that I was playing against stronger kids and bigger kids. I was always quite small and quite skinny and lanky. I just had to find ways to win. It helped me develop a certain skill set that kind of helped me for the future.

But I knew that for me the important point was always to work on myself and get the most out of myself. In the long run I was going to get rewarded.

I'm happy where I am, saying that, but as always, I want more.

Q. Are you conscious of your record over here? Does it come into your mind at all?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, of course. My record here, I haven't played probably my best tennis.

To be honest, I think it's more on clay. You know, the first couple years of my career, I struggled to find my feet a little bit, but I think that's really changed as of late.

Last year I really felt like I found myself on this surface, and I was able to play some good, high quality matches, and felt quite comfortable.

Last year I had a brutal match, you know, against Gaston, losing in the super-tiebreak, but hey, I think, you know, I'm not in the same place I was three or four years ago where I would come here and kind of just hope for a good draw because I knew it was going to be tough.

Now I feel like I can play well and I can, you know, take it to anyone who is in front of me.

Q. How much do you know about Tomas Martin Etcheverry? You have not played him before.

ALEX de MINAUR: Actually, I have in Orange Bowl, Under 12s or something like that (smiling), so a while, while back. Yeah, look, he's I think definition of a very, very good clay-courter. You know, he's a very strong guy, tall guy, got a big serve, big forehand.

Yeah, it's gonna be a great test for me. These are the types of matches I want to be playing, and I'm looking forward to it. He's one of those unseeded dark horses, you know, so I'll be ready for a battle. That's for sure.

Q. We spoke pretournament about some of the other Australians and a strong contingent. You thought the level they were playing at was really good but that they could even go higher. Thanasi and Jason got through yesterday. Must have been pleasing to see. What makes you think they can go even higher?

ALEX de MINAUR: I just think they're great tennis players, and I think me talking about Jason, the one thing that was maybe lacking before was just a belief in himself. I mean, I don't think he knows how good he plays this sport, right?

You know, Thanasi, the weapons that Thanasi has, he's got an all-court game for every surface. I think he's extremely dangerous. As soon as he's, which he has, he's kind of stopped getting injuries and niggles here and there, he's kind of finding his feet, I think, it's only a matter of time.

Then you've got guys like Oakes (phonetic) who has had a career high this week. You've got Popyrin. You've got so many guys, even just outside, you've got the likes of Duckworth, Rinky, Vukic who just made top 100. I think we've got a lot of guys that can be competitive week in and week out.

I think as soon as they kind of get in this kind of situation every week, they will realize that they belong here. Once that happens, then we're going to have strength in numbers. That's for sure.