As one of many fiercest opponents on the ATP Tour, inconsistency is not one thing you usually affiliate with Alex de Minaur.
However because the ATP Tour season enters the third quarter and he appears to be like again on his efficiency in 2023, the Aussie speedster is concentrated on eradicating a number of the disappointing early-round losses, particularly on the large levels, which have saved him from turning season into an important one.
Ranked seventeenth on the planet, he’s simply two spots off his career-best ATP Pepperstone rating. His file of 22-14 on the yr is stable. He claimed the largest title of his profession in February on the ATP 500 in Acapulco and was aggressive in a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Carlos Alcaraz within the Queen’s closing shortly earlier than the Spaniard gained Wimbledon.
However after a fourth-round run on the Australian Open (l. to Djokovic) in January, De Minaur endured a 4-7 file at Grand Slam and ATP Masters 1000 ranges.
“The season has been fairly hectic. I had some superb outcomes and a few not so good outcomes, which I want to wipe out,” De Minaur advised ATPTour.com in Atlanta. “However proper now I am nonetheless standing in a fairly good place with the second half of the yr forward and I am wanting ahead to having the ability to hopefully make good use of the place I’m and have some good outcomes and hold pushing increased and better and hopefully attain a brand new profession excessive.”
Consistency has not been a problem for the Australian on the Atlanta Open, an occasion he has gained twice in three appearances, and the place he’s set to defend his title this week. De Minaur is enjoying his first match since a second-round exit at Wimbledon this week, returning to Atlanta the place he’s on an eight-game successful streak following his titles in 2022 and 2019.
“I really feel good right here,” stated De Minaur. “It is a very snug and really simple match for the gamers. The resort is mainly on web site and you’ve got nice meals close by. It is undoubtedly simpler to play good tennis whenever you’re snug.
Having spent the early a part of his profession away from huge names like Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, De Minaur sees the subsequent few years as probably the best interval of his profession, regardless of the emergence of Alcaraz’s new triple risk Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune who may embark on a interval of shared dominance.
“We’re coming to a stage in tennis the place every thing is opening up rather a lot, so it’s fairly thrilling. me personally, I want to be one of many individuals who take it to the subsequent stage,” stated De Minaur.
“So that is the plan for me. Hold engaged on myself. Hold making an attempt to push your self and be the man who finally ends up sinking into the large tournaments within the huge weeks.
His two titles in Atlanta are proof that the Sydney native had no hassle making the transition from the grass season to American onerous courts. And he has no worries concerning the change this time round.
“It is most likely not probably the most tough change on the planet. I feel there are different adjustments all year long that take a bit extra getting used to. After Wimbledon I prefer to take a while off, to sort of reset myself a bit, each bodily and mentally. After which usually, I’ve a pleasant little week of preparation, good preparation, good coaching, after which I am able to go.
“I do not do something particular. Ultimately, it comes very naturally to me to play on onerous courts. In all probability a very powerful factor is motion, you begin trusting your self once more and begin committing to motion for work and sliding down the court docket.
“Coming again as defending champion, if something, simply creates a goal in your again. I had the possibility to do it a number of instances. So now I am a bit used to it and it is simply one other week. Each time you begin a brand new match, you begin from scratch and you realize it’s important to let the perfect win. So hopefully I can put myself within the working this week, and we’ll see what occurs.
De Minaur’s opener will likely be towards fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, who picked up a three-set victory over Gael Monfils on Monday night time.
