AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2026

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Alex de Minaur.

Welcome back, Alex. This is your 10th appearance at the Australian Open singles tour. How is this one different than the previous ones?

ALEX de MINAUR: It's pretty crazy that it's already been 10 years competing in the main draw. Super excited about that.

It's been an incredible journey. I'm definitely hoping that there's, you know, another 10 more (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: We'll open to the floor.

Q. I know you don't like looking too far ahead in the draw. First-round matchup, what was your reaction when you saw that Matteo was waiting for you in the opening round here?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, ultimately every single player in the draw is extremely tough. I knew going in that there were going to be many kind of unseeded players, which were going to be really tough matchups.

It's going to be a battle, but I'm looking forward to it. It basically just means that I'm going to have to be firing from the word 'go'. We've had some good matches in the past.

Yeah, hopefully I'll be ready for it.

Q. Ten years you've been here, do they get easier? Do they get harder? Especially as your ranking goes up, I imagine expectations go up. How does the experience of it change?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, you do start to become a lot more familiar. It feels like home. The first couple years you're a little bit lost, not really knowing the kind of areas you like within the site, where you kind of feel comfortable.

But it just feels great to be back. It feels like home. I've been here now 10 years. I've had the same locker since the first day I've been here. So all these types of things just make it a whole lot easier.

Yeah, as for the tournament, competitive-wise, I'm feeling really good. I'm hitting the ball great. I'm physically feeling really good, so I'm excited to get started. It's by no means going to be easy. I'm ready for the competition.

Q. Alex, you said you have had the same locker for 10 years. Are you superstitious? Do you have many superstitions you have to do at a slam, especially this one?

ALEX de MINAUR: I go through ebbs and flows. Throughout my career I've tried to stay clear from superstitions, because I think it can consume you, right?

Over the years I've tried to kind of get rid of them. There was a restaurant we used to frequent every time we were around here. That's just recently closed down, so now we got to look for a new spot (smiling). That's why there's a lot of these things you kind of have to be flexible.

Overall, whether it's following routines or superstitions, it's anything that's going to get you in the right mindset.

Q. You spoke the other day about how you don't associate your home Grand Slam with pressure. It must be different with the commitments, the extra attention, more media during the week, sponsor engagements. How does it differ to preparing for other Grand Slams?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, there's definitely a lot more off-court activities, off-court noise, stuff that you've got to deal with and handle that you probably don't have at any of the other slams.

At the same time, it comes with a lot of perks, right? Every time I walk out there, I'm playing in front of my home crowd. That's what makes it special and what it's all about.

But yeah, it is something that I've got to manage, manage my energy levels of giving kind of my time out to everyone else, but also reminding myself that I need to be selfish at times and think about myself and what's going to help me come out and perform, 'cause ultimately I'm here as a competitor to hopefully go deep at the Australian Open. That's my priority.

Q. You've been pretty open in terms of trying to work out ways to try to improve your game, try to bridge that gap to the top. I heard Jim Courier mention something at Laver Cup when you were alongside Agassi and Pat Rafter, you had a closed session where you were working on your slice, when to use it, how you can use it effectively. Talk us through what did that sort of experience mean to you? What did you learn out of it? How do you plan to use that at events like this?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, more than anything I've had these shots. They've been part of my arsenal now for a while. It's just about learning or really choosing the right moments to use it, right?

I've had the variety. I've always been happy to come to the net and feel quite confident up there. I've had different aspects of my game.

But depending on matchups or who I've been playing, I haven't always executed it in the right moment. It's just about finding ways to bring out that creative side in me, which is normally when I play some of my best tennis.

If I can keep adding those elements to my game, it's only going to make me a better version of myself. It's going to give me better chances and opportunities to achieve my goals.

Q. You've spent time with the Weet-Bix Kids this week. What would you like your legacy to be?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, that was a pretty cool moment. I mean, ultimately I'm in a position now that I have to remind myself that I was that little kid, right? I was that little kid growing up, looking up to certain people, players, athletes.

Ultimately I've got to set a standard and hopefully do my best to inspire the next generation, the same way I was inspired as a little kid.

There is a constant focus for me into what that next generation looks like, whether it's through Weet-Bix Kids, whether it's through Hot Shots, through my foundation.

I think ultimately the kids are the future, so if I can have a positive impact in their lives, I'll be very happy with that.

THE MODERATOR: We do have the Hot Shots Kids in the press conference room. We'll take the last questions from them.

Q. What is your favorite shot? Forehand, backhand, or volley?

ALEX de MINAUR: That is a good question.

It depends on the day. Sometimes I'm feeling great with my forehand. Sometimes I'm feeling great with my backhand.

You know what? I'm going to go with my backhand. That's my favorite shot.

Q. What favorite tennis player did you like when you were a kid?

ALEX de MINAUR: When I was a kid, one of the players that I grew up watching was Lleyton Hewitt. He was one of the guys that I looked up to. He was kind of my idol.

I think many, many Australian kids growing up looked up to him.

Great question, guys (smiling).

THE MODERATOR: Thank you.