AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2025

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/F. Cerundolo

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

THE MODERATOR: Alex, well done. Through to the second week of a slam once more. How did you turn it around after losing the first set?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, it was definitely not pretty (smiling). I found a way. That's all that matters. That's all I need to do in these types of moments: find a way to get through the first week.

By no means was it pretty. I'm glad I made it over the line.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can we get you to talk about that reflex volley, Love-15, 6-5 down, potentially in a two-set hole. How do you look back at that?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, that was potentially a game-changer right there. It wasn't looking good. I wasn't feeling comfortable out there. Yeah, I felt like things weren't really going my way.

Then all of a sudden I, yeah, made contact with the ball off a net cord and reflexed it over the line in a pretty big moment. Yeah, it was definitely a difference-maker.

Q. Going into the tiebreaker, knowing potentially you could be two sets down, did any sort of doubt creep in, any self-doubt?

ALEX de MINAUR: Before I walk on the court, every time I make a pact with myself, a promise to myself, that I'm going to compete till the very last point no matter what.

Look, if I went two sets down, it wasn't going to change my attitude or my fight or my belief. I was still going to compete till the end.

It definitely made my life a whole lot easier to turn that match around, being one set all instead of two sets to love down in a tough, physical battle.

I think also if he would have won that set, then maybe physically he would have been able to see the finish line. But the fact that I managed to win that set, it was a physical battle. He started to feel like the finish line was a whole lot further.

Q. Can you take more out of a match like that where you've had to find a solution and struggle than, for example, the first couple rounds where you were on top for the fair portions of the matches?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I feel like I learned a lot. I mean, looking back at this, I reckon this is probably the first match that I've played here in Oz where I've felt, like today, that I didn't feel comfortable. I felt all of a sudden a little bit of pressure playing. I didn't know what to do.

I just told myself, yeah, to go out there and compete. A part of me knew that at some point there was going to be always a match where pressure was going to be there and the nerves were going to be there, kind of the expectation was going to be there. I knew it was going to be a part of it.

I just told myself to go out there, compete. Geez, I'd rather win ugly any day over losing pretty, right? Ultimately I lived to fight another day. My next one I'll make sure I bring a better level.

Q. It's your fourth time into the fourth round here, all of them in a row. Last Aussie who achieved that was Phil Dent 43 years ago, so really long time. What do you feel about playing in that Rod Laver Arena with all your crowd? Why do you think your game match really well with the conditions here?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, look, there's no better feeling than playing in front of a packed crowd, right? Even playing in a day session and seeing everyone out there with me for four hours, right? They're in the stands, and it's hot in the stands as well. It's obviously hot on the court. For most of that match, people in the stands are out there in the sun. They still supported me from the very first point till the last. That's truly special.

Today, day session, Aussie heat, born and raised in it, I'm ready to go whether it was three sets, four sets or five sets. I was feeling good physically. I knew the work I put in. That gave me the confidence to go out there and still compete till the end.

Q. Could I ask you to look back at a couple of moments in the past. One, the first time you were in the fourth round here against Sinner, then again last year against Michelsen. I think he beat you.

ALEX de MINAUR: Rublev. I play Michelsen now.

Q. A year ago you lost to Michelsen.

ALEX de MINAUR: To Rublev.

Q. In Mexico.

ALEX de MINAUR: Okay, yeah.

Q. I wanted to get a comparison of how you're feeling four years ago since Sinner, how you're feeling a year ago against Michelsen, and how you're feeling now.

ALEX de MINAUR: Okay.

Yeah, it's part of my journey, right? I think when I played Jannik in that fourth round, I think we were both very, very different players. He was still coming up, still wasn't as solid as he is right now.

Yeah, a different version of myself. A lot younger. Still had the competitive, the mental aspect, but still lacked many areas to really take it to these top guys.

Yeah, I played Michelsen twice. One went his way; one went mine. Two different matches. One on clay; one on hard.

He's been playing really well. He's a dangerous opponent with a lot of confidence now. He's taken some big scalps this week, so ready for a battle.

He's going to go out there with no fear. I'm going to do my best to make it difficult for him.

Q. I'm keen to get your thoughts on the Tomic match fixing investigation coming to light. Secondly, do you think enough is being done to stop match fixing?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, to comment on something that I have literally had no idea about it, and I saw it on the news I think it was last night for the very first time. I've had no idea about any of the situation and where it's even at.

Now, of course it's something - match fixing - in our sport that we don't ever want. We don't ever want to taint this beautiful sport that we're playing.

Of course, if anyone has done anything of that sort, then I'm not for it. I think the authorities will definitely punish them severely.

Q. Novak spoke very highly of you in his press conference last night, mentioning several areas of improvement that he's seen, including serve, court positioning. How do you respond to that glowing endorsement? Do you feel like on a day like today where, as you said before, you didn't come out firing, but you still play well enough and still got enough weapons to grind through, do you think you're in a good position now to go all the way?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, look, ultimately when you hear any compliments coming from someone like Novak, who's virtually perfect in every aspect of his game, it's obviously very nice to hear. Always will appreciate it 'cause you put in the work with your team behind closed scenes.

But it's always good that other players in the locker room are noticing, right? It means you're doing something right. That's a great feeling.

Yeah, today, getting through matches like today, maybe I think in the past, not playing well, not feeling amazing, I maybe would have found a way to lose that match, right? Like that first set where I was in control and then all of a sudden it just kind of slipped out of my hands.

I think this version of myself is exactly that: even if I don't have my best day, I'm going to compete till the end, and I'm still going to be a very tough out for anyone who's in front of me.

I build on that. We move on. Hopefully bigger and better things coming on for the next round.