After finishing one of the busiest years of his career with a breakthrough win over the world No.3, and helping Australia into the Davis Cup finals in November, Alex de Minaur had earned a holiday.
But in a sign of his burning ambition, the young Sydneysider didn’t take a break. He didn’t even take a day off.
“I think I finished Davis Cup on the 27th or 28th [November] and I started my pre-season the following day, so no rest for the wicked,” de Minaur said.
“Just keep on going, keep on pushing. We don’t have too much time. So we want to make sure that you do the most out of it and to make sure I’m ready for an Aussie summer, ready, physically and mentally.“
De Minaur isn’t one for lengthy reflection but 2022 was undoubtedly a successful one for the 23-year-old. On his way to logging a career-high 47 wins for the season, de Minaur made the fourth round at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, made semi-finals in Barcelona, Eastbourne and Lyon and won the Atlanta Open in July.
De Minaur finished the year with a typically pugnacious performance for Australia in the Davis Cup, beating Marin Cilic in the semi-finals to help Lleyton Hewitt’s team reach the final, where they fell to Canada.
Alex de Minaur talking with media in front of the newly created United Cup in Sydney.Credit:Getty
But perhaps the biggest result came a few weeks earlier when de Minaur beat Daneel Medvedev at the ATP Masters in Paris. It was the first time in 18 matches with a top five opponent that de Minaur had claimed a victory, and with it perhaps the confidence of knowing the world no.24 has the game to surpass the US Open quarter-final appearance in 2020.
“It was a big win for me to kind of finish off a great year. I think that’s what I want to build on. I’m one of those guys that isn’t really satisfied where I am right now,” de Minaur said.
“Of course I’ve made it deep in the slams and that’s where I want to be, but again, fourth rounds aren’t really something that satisfies me. I want to keep pushing. I want to get deeper in the tournaments … and really play against the best in the world and put myself out there. I’m a strong believer that if I keep putting myself out in those positions, then you know they’re going to go my way.”
De Minaur jumped at the chance to join Team Australia for the new United Cup tournament, which runs from December 29 to January 8 and features 18 national teams playing in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. The tournament sees four singles matches (two men and two women), with ranking points, and a mixed doubles game in each tie.
Alex de Minaur with his trophy from the Atlanta Open in July.Credit:AP
The Australian team is Nick Kyrgios, Ajla Tomljanovic, De Minaur, Zoe Hives, Jason Kubler, Maddison Inglis, John Peers and playing co-captain Sam Stosur. Hewitt is a non-playing co-captain.
Australia have Great Britain and Spain in their pool, meaning Kyrgios will take on Rafa Nadal and Cameron Norrie. The teams will be whittled down until a final four, who play finals in Sydney.
The tournament mixes two of Di Minaur’s favourite things in tennis: playing for Australia, and playing in Sydney, where he won a singles title in 2019.
“I think it’s just playing in a team environment, you don’t get to do that very often,” de Minaur said.
DeMinaur practising in Sydney with Tony Roche watching on.Credit:Getty
“The year is a very long year, a lot of individual tournaments, so whenever you get a chance to come as a team, it’s always very special.
“I love the energy, I love being part of something bigger, where we each have our backs, we want the best for each other. I think it’s special. So it does bring out the best to me but the plan is to bring that level or year out.
“It’s by far the most exciting part of the year for me, I’ve always loved being back here.
“I think we got a great team and I think you can just see what we accomplished this last year by both of us making the Davis Cup final and the Billie Jean King Cup final it just shows what Australians can really do when they represent the green and gold.”
Watch the United Cup live and free on the 9Network – Channel 9 and 9Gem. Every match will be available live on 9Now.
