Alex de Minaur, a winner of two titles and 47 matches in a career-best season, opens his ATP Finals marketing campaign in opposition to world No.1 Jannik Sinner on Sunday.
10 November 2024 | Sam Jacot, ATPTour.com Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.
“I’ve simply always checked out myself within the mirror and tried to seek out methods to get higher,” De Minaur mentioned when requested about his growth. “It’s what I’ve carried out each single yr. Repeatedly making an attempt to enhance and get higher and have enjoyable methods to get higher. It’s by no means to be happy. Enormous credit score to my complete group, all of the individuals round me who push me.
“Issues simply click on. You look and attempt to discover and tweak a couple of issues till you hit the fitting spot after which the arrogance works and it’s a great point when you find yourself enjoying good tennis and excessive on confidence.”
De Minaur will should be at his highest in Turin, the place he makes his debut. The Australian, who has gained two tour-level titles in 2024, shall be plunged straight into the deep finish on Sunday evening when he takes on World No. 1 and residential favorite Jannik Sinner in his opening round-robin match in Ilie Nastase Group.
“It’s not rocket science however it’s important to be prepared from the phrase go. It doesn’t get any tougher than beginning in opposition to Jannik,” mentioned De Minaur, who trails Sinner 0-7 within the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head collection. “From the very begin, I should be prepared, I have to compete. It’s going to be an awesome expertise. An ideal problem. However that is the place I’ve wished to be all these years.”
Your 2024 Champions. A brand new period. 🏆#NittoATPFinals pic.twitter.com/VRWm1BcejT
— ATP Tour (@atptour) November 7, 2024
Sinner reached the ultimate in Turin in 2023 and backed that up by profitable majors on the Australian Open and US Open in 2024. De Minaur is conscious of the problem he’ll face come Sunday evening.
“Jannik’s profession remains to be very younger however he has achieved a lot,” De Minaur added. “One of the best participant on the earth this yr. Enjoying some unbelievable tennis. Constant. Has the very best win share on Tour and it’s all for a cause. He’s a really powerful buyer to play in opposition to, so he has earned his strategy to the highest.”
> READ: De Minaur’s highway for a debut ATP Finals run
De Minaur may even play 2020 champion Daniil Medvedev and 2022 semifinalist Taylor Fritz within the round-robin stage. The nine-time tour-level titlist was filled with reward for each.
“Medvedev himself is an fascinating character,” De Minaur mentioned. “We’ve performed a whole lot of matches, had a whole lot of battles. I all the time look ahead to these sorts of matches. I believe we’re each tacticians on the market after we play one another. We attempt to put balls in sure areas the place they gained’t like.
“Taylor Fritz is highly effective, cool below stress and has an awesome serve. He has a whole lot of firepower about him. He has proven what he’s able to this yr. Making a remaining of a Grand Slam is just not a simple feat.”
Republished with variety permission from ATPTour.com.
