Australian teenage sensation Alex De Minaur has grabbed the headlines in Australian newspapers and online websites after a spectacular start to his 2018 season.
Alex De Minaur started the new year on a high note at the Brisbane International, where he beat Milos Raonic en route to reaching the semifinals. De Minaur lost to Ryan Harrison in the semifinal of the Australian tournament.
“I could not ask for more. I beat a high-quality opponent and I am stoked. Every match you play you have to have some belief that you gonna win that match. My phone started to blow up after my match against Raonic”, said De Minaur.
One week later he reached his maiden ATP Final in Sydney where he finished runner-up to 22-year-old Russian player Danil Medvedev in the title match.
De Minaur went down 0-4 in the decisive set against Medvedev, but clawed his way back to draw level to 5-5 before the Russian player clinched the title in three sets 1-6 6-4 7-5.
“I guess when you are a little kid, that’s something you aspire to get to. It’s crazy to get to. It’s crazy that it’s happening now, but it’s the same old me. Nothing is going to change. I am still going to get out there on court and leave it all out there, give it my best. I have a little bit of confidence, self-belief. I am really happy where my level is at. It was crazy. All the support I got that week was just unbelievable. Growing up and hitting on those courts, actually watching that tournament as a spectator, it was an incredible experience to actually play in the final there. It’s a week I will never forget”, said De Minaur.
De Minaur was born in Sydney to a Spanish mother Esther, who is a homemaker and an Uruguayan father Anibal. Alex lived in Spain until the age of five before moving to Australia. He speaks English, Spanish and French. His idols growing up were Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt. He trains in Alicante and is supported by Tennis Australia. He attended Primary School in Spain and finished school while he was travelling on tour. His favourite football team is Real Madrid because his mother is a longtime fan.
He was ranked world number 2 in the Junior rankings, won the 2016 Australian Open Boys’ doubles teaming up with Blake Ellis and reached the semifinal in the Australian Open junior singles tournament. He played Futures and won a doubles tournament in a Spanish tournament in Madrid with Carlos Boluda Purkiss. He produced a major impact in July 2016 when he finished runner-up to Denis Shapovalov in the Wimbledon Junior final after three sets.
The Australian teenage player made his breakthrough on the international stage in January 2017 when he upset Frenchman Benoit Paire in the first round in Brisbane last year. He then made his first appearance of the Australian Open in January 2017 as a wildcard and beat Austrian player Gerald Melzer in five sets after saving one match point.
He will play against Tomas Berdych in the first round at this year’s Australian Open on Tuesday. The Czech player reached the Australian Open semifinals twice in his career.
“Every single time I step on court, I am learning something new. I am trying to soak it all up. I am using it to deal with different types of situations. Against Tomas, it’s going to be a very tough match. Then again, I can’t wait to get out there. It’s going to be fun. I want to leave it out there, compete every point, give myself the best opportunity I can to play well. I think that’s the only thing I can ask from myself. Hopefully it’s a really good battle. It’s going to be fun. I can’t wait. I am just trying to continue to ride this wave”.