MUBADALA CITI DC OPEN

July 27, 2025

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/A. Davidovich Fokina

5-7, 6-1, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Alex, congratulations. You're the champion here in D.C. Can you describe the emotions you were feeling as it got really tight there at the end of the match and now that you got it over the line?

ALEX de MINAUR: Honestly, a little bit of disbelief. There were some very tough moments out there. But it was a weird feeling and sensation, because I felt like I had already been in that position. I was thinking about 2018, semifinals match against Rublev on that same court where I fought some match points by being aggressive and committing to hitting the ball.

Yeah, I just stayed in the moment, competed to the last point, and thanks to that, I got my tenth title. Extremely happy with myself.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. As you're sitting there kind of processing that you won that tournament, you look over and see Alejandro on the bench there, what did you think when you saw him and you went over to him? What did you tell him when you sat next to him?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, it's absolutely brutal. I feel for him. Look, nothing I could say in that moment was going to make the situation better. I just wanted to let him know how good of a player he is. He is way too good to not have a title.

It's just a matter of time. He's an incredible player. He's had five top-10 wins this year. He's someone that no one wants to play against, right?

Yeah, I did my best to try to make the situation a little bit better, but look, I know he's on the up. His whole team knows he's on the up. Everyone in the locker room knows he's on the up.

He's going to be a very dangerous player to play against in the hard-court swing.

Q. Congratulations on the win. After you fired that last ace, you launched the ball out of the stadium, threw your armband into the crowd. In that immediate moment, how are you processing that and what are the emotions in that immediate moment?

ALEX de MINAUR: In that immediate moment, it's just relief. I have had some tough losses this year, 7-6 in the third, and kind of just felt like it was a huge weight off my back.

And the way I played that tiebreak, I committed to my shots, I went after it. Yeah, it's just a sense of relief, proud of the way I have been dealing with my emotions and feelings on and off the court. I have put in a lot of work on that. It's amazing to see the rewards so soon. It means I'm definitely doing something right.

Q. Incredible effort. Wanted to ask about two points in the 4-5 game when you were serving 15-30, you hit a perfect drop volley and held up your hands. Were you not intending to hit it that perfect?

ALEX de MINAUR: No, I didn't think that was full string, that one. I think that had a little bit of frame to it. I don't know how it looked on the replay, but yeah, I mean, the ball was coming quick. It was a quick reaction. I'm glad it ended up being a great shot.

Q. And then on one of the championship points when he had you in the back of the court and you threw up the lob, did you think the lob was going in?

ALEX de MINAUR: I 100% thought the lob was going out, and I was surprised not to hear a call, to be honest (smiling). I was just waiting for that "out, out, out, out," and then all of a sudden, there was no call and I was, like, jeez, I'm still in this.

The moment that happened, I thought the stars aligned. I felt like it meant that this match was mine for the taking, and I just had to, yeah, keep fighting till the end.

Q. And you had a lot of work to do still on that point. I think you came forward and had a tough volley to win that point.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, again, I thought every single match point against me I played brave and played the right way, and extremely proud of myself.

He was playing at such a high level throughout that whole match that I kind of told myself, Look, if I lose this, he's playing extremely well. I'm going to have to go out on my terms and commit and be more aggressive. Hey, if I lose, I lose, but I wanted to go out on my terms, and I'm glad I was able to be a little bit more aggressive.

And I think that changed the game at the end.

Q. A question about the same game. Nine minutes long, six deuces, in a three-hour-long match. When you're in the midst of it, as fans and media were watching, it's like, man, this is lengthy, but are you thinking point, point, point? Does it go quicker when you're in the midst of it?

ALEX de MINAUR: You're in the zone, to be honest. It's a battle out there. It's a battle against yourself, against your opponent. Points are being played. Some are being played well by your opponent. Some are being played well by you.

There is the odd error here and there, and you're just trying to find ways to win that game no matter what, right? When there is so many points being played in that game, you start sometimes double-guessing your own tactics, right? Because you've gone through the same patterns so often. The same spots. Where do I serve? Look, I think he knows I'm going to serve this side, but maybe, because of that, I'm going to serve to the other one, and he's there.

It was just playing on just gut feel out there and just competing, right? Which is what I do so well.

Q. How do you balance soaking in the win but also now you have a quick turnaround heading to Montreal. How do you enjoy the moment and also turn your attention forward, as well?

ALEX de MINAUR: Well, something I have learned over the past couple of years is that these moments are very hard to come by, and there's a lot of effort and sacrifice that goes into it.

So tonight I'll be enjoying a glass of wine with the team, acknowledging an incredible week. Then tomorrow I will be flying to Toronto and probably practicing in the afternoon and getting ready for another week, because the tennis world doesn't stop. And, yeah, there's no rest for the wicked.

Q. As you take a sip of wine as a perfect segue, it's a food-related question, Leylah told us she's been at Shake Shack this week, has been her food of choice. Alejandro likes Chipotle. Do you have a carryout or takeout or something you have been noshing on here in Washington?

ALEX de MINAUR: I have tried to stay clear from that side of things, because in the past, I was extremely superstitious.

Q. That's what Leylah said.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, to this point, I still am, but I'm trying to do my best to be a little bit more relaxed about everything that happens, because you play some late matches, you don't get to dinner in time, so I'm trying to switch it up.

I do like routines, though. So I have hit with the same hitting partner all week long. That's been a given. Apart from that, in the mornings we have been going to Georgetown and having a coffee. That's been part of the morning routine, right, of these later matches, making the time to start the day on the right note.

So I don't know. There is always something here and there. If you end up winning a title, it means you're in a great head space all week, so whatever helps you get in that head space.

Q. The moment with you and Alejandro after the match was really touching and great sportsmanship, and you said you knew you couldn't console him in the moment. But looking back through your career, was there a moment like that for you where an opponent said some words to you that were meaningful or touching to you after a tough loss?

ALEX de MINAUR: That's a good question. I'm not too sure I can recall a moment right now. I have had some great chats with players not after matches, just like after a training or just random chats. I have had great chats with my team.

Me and my team, we are brutally honest with each other, and sometimes, especially in the toughest moments, you know, some of those words hurt but I know deep down they're the truth and they're what I need to hear.

Look, I think thanks to the great team of people around me that kind of keep me grounded but also keep pushing me and keep believing in me that I can do certain things is the reason I am here right now.