As one of many fiercest opponents on the ATP Tour, inconsistency isn’t one thing you usually affiliate with Alex de Minaur.
However because the ATP Tour season strikes into the third quarter and he takes inventory of his 2023 efficiency, the Australian speedster is focussed on hunting down among the disappointing early-round losses, significantly on the large phases, which have prevented him turning a great season into an awesome one.
At World No. 17, he’s simply two spots away from his career-high Pepperstone ATP Rating. His 22-14 file on the 12 months is strong. 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 defeat to Carlos Alcaraz within the Queen’s closing shortly earlier than the Spaniard went on to win Wimbledon.
However after a run to the Australian Open fourth spherical (l. to Djokovic) in January, De Minaur has endured a 4-7 file on the Grand Slam and ATP Masters 1000 ranges.
“It’s been fairly an up and down season. I’ve had some excellent outcomes and a few not so good ones, which I want to erase,” De Minaur advised ATPTour.com in Atlanta. “However nonetheless proper now I stand at a fairly great place with the second a part of the 12 months to go and I’m wanting ahead to hopefully having the ability to make good use of the place I’m and have some good outcomes and preserve pushing greater and better and hopefully get to a brand new profession excessive.”
Consistency has not been an issue for the Australian on the Atlanta Open, an occasion he has received twice in three appearances, and the place he’s set to defend his title this week. De Minaur this week is enjoying his first match since a second-round exit at Wimbledon, returning to Atlanta the place he’s on an eight-match successful streak after his titles in 2022 and 2019.
“I simply really feel good right here,” De Minaur mentioned. “It is a very snug match that’s very straightforward for the gamers. The resort is principally on web site and you’ve got some nice meals shut by. It undoubtedly makes it simpler to play good tennis once you’re snug.”
Having spent the primary a part of his profession squeezed out of massive titles competition by the likes of Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, De Minaur appears upon the subsequent few years as probably the best interval of his profession, regardless of the emergence of the brand new triple risk of Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune, who could embark on a shared interval of domination of their very own.
“We’re attending to a stage in tennis the place all the things is opening up loads, in order that’s fairly thrilling. myself personally, I want to be amongst the folks breaking by to the subsequent stage,” De Minaur mentioned.
“In order that’s the plan for me. Simply preserve engaged on myself. Maintain attempting to push by and be the man that finally ends up going deep in within the massive tournaments within the massive weeks.”
His two Atlanta titles are proof that the Sydney native has not struggled making the transition from the grass season to the US arduous courts. And he doesn’t have any considerations in regards to the change this time round.
“It is most likely not the toughest change on the planet. I feel there’s different adjustments all year long that take a little bit bit extra adjusting to. After Wimbledon, I prefer to take a little bit little bit of break day, form of reset a little bit bit, each bodily and mentally. After which usually get myself a pleasant little week of prep, good prep, good coaching, after which I am able to go.
“There’s nothing particular I do. In the end, it comes very pure to me enjoying on the arduous courts. In all probability the largest factor is simply motion, you begin trusting your self once more, and begin form of committing to motion for work and form of sliding across the courtroom.
“Coming again because the defending champion, if something, it simply creates a goal in your again. I have been lucky sufficient to do it a pair occasions. So now, I am form of used to it and it is simply one other week. Each time you begin a brand new match, you begin from scratch, and you already know you gotta let the perfect man win. So hopefully I can put myself in competition this week, and we’ll see what occurs.”
De Minaur’s opening match can be towards fellow Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis, who loved a comeback three-set win over Gael Monfils Monday evening.
