What You See Is What You Get From The Relentless Alex De Minaur
Tennis|July/August 2019

What you see is what you get from the relentless Alex de Minaur, and early returns indicate that we’ll be seeing a lot of him

Nina Pantic
What You See Is What You Get From The Relentless Alex De Minaur

“There’s a lot of stuff that happens off the court,” says Alex de Minaur, “but I think at the end of the day, what I really want is to be that boring guy that lets his tennis do the talking, you know?”

With caustic Nick Kyrgios and headline-generating Bernard Tomic as compatriots, it doesn’t take much for de Minaur to be considered “boring” in Australian tennis circles. But as the 20-year-old says, the label suits him just fine—and it’s working. The “boring” guy from Down Under happens to be one of his country’s best. As of mid-April, de Minaur found himself on the verge of cracking the Top 20 and leading the pack as his nation’s No. 1.

“It’s really just about putting in the hard yards and training hard,” de Minaur, all of 152 pounds, recently told Tennis Channel.

“I just want to constantly keep getting better. As long as I can keep improving each day, I’m a strong believer that the results will show.”

Ranked outside the Top 200 at the start of 2018, de Minaur has quickly established himself as one of the tour’s top young stars, with a foundation based on a stellar work ethic, lightning-fast footspeed, and sky-high intensity. His toolkit recalls that of another undersized Australian, Lleyton Hewitt, who just so happens to mentor the Sydney native.

This story is from the July/August 2019 edition of Tennis.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July/August 2019 edition of Tennis.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM TENNISView All
The Tennis Conversation: Jenson Brooksby, a piano man
Tennis

The Tennis Conversation: Jenson Brooksby, a piano man

Billy Joel may be a New York City icon, but the fans in Queens should start getting to know this piano man

time-read
4 mins  |
September - October 2021
The Five-Step Sit-Down Plan
Tennis

The Five-Step Sit-Down Plan

Don’t neglect the value of a smart changeover routine

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2021
MAKING THE TURN
Tennis

MAKING THE TURN

Six years after saying goodbye to the protour grind, Mardy Fish may be more active than ever—on the court, on the course, and helping combat a struggle anyone can encounter

time-read
9 mins  |
September - October 2021
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Tennis

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Queens is known for its gastronomy as much as its tennis. Daniil Medvedev, equal parts sugar and spice, hopes to add a unique flavor to the borough as he vies for his first major

time-read
9 mins  |
September - October 2021
SUMMER IN THE CITIES
Tennis

SUMMER IN THE CITIES

Broadway may not re-open until mid September, but tennis offers its own brand of live theatre in the preceding months

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2021
REOPEN SEASON
Tennis

REOPEN SEASON

The pandemic halted tennis as an up-close experience— but is now giving way to pandemonium among crowds. As the pro game reopens this summer and fans gather again, we’re realizing what we’ve been missing for so long

time-read
10+ mins  |
September - October 2021
Court of Appeals
Tennis

Court of Appeals

Resolving Your Rules Questions&Quarrels

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2021
An Open Mind: New York's Slam has no shortage of history, but it always evolves
Tennis

An Open Mind: New York's Slam has no shortage of history, but it always evolves

In the last decade, Arthur Ashe Stadium got a roof, and a new Grandstand and Louis Armstrong Stadium debuted.

time-read
2 mins  |
September - October 2021
Those Fall Feels
Tennis

Those Fall Feels

The end of summer may be bittersweet, but getting lost amid the backroads of NEW ENGLAND adds a silver—and golden—lining to the season change. Pack a few sweaters along with your tennis kit and prepare for leaf-peeping, scenic drives and delicious autumnal ingredients to pair with your forehands

time-read
6 mins  |
September - October 2021
Tennis

Court of Appeals

Resolving Your Rules Questions & Quarrels

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2021