ROLAND GARROS

May 25, 2026

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/T. Samuel

6-4, 6-4, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Alex, well done. How pleased were you to get through in straight sets on such a hot day?

ALEX de MINAUR: Happy to get my campaign started. You know, never easy starting first match of a tournament, but to get the win in straight sets, I thought I played a very consistent match. I did what I needed to do. Yeah, happy to be in the next round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What were you most pleased with, apart from the consistency?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think just, you know, the mindset. The serving I thought was quite good. It's something that definitely helped me out.

I knew he was playing with a lot of confidence coming through qualifying and winning some great matches, so I was ready for a battle. It was quite a quick turnaround from Hamburg, which was kind of cold and rainy to coming here where it's very hot and lively. I'm very happy with the way I had adapted. I did what I needed to do.

On to the next one.

Q. There was some big news overnight about Australian Tennis with a new boss, who is apparently, you'd know better than I, has revolutionized Rugby League in Australia. What do you think about him coming on board with Tennis Australia?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, as you said, it's new news, right? It's something that's come overnight. I don't know him personally. I'm sure I would love to, you know, get to know him and kind of learn a little bit more about what he's keen to do or what his vision is for Tennis Australia.

Of course, we had Craig for a long time, who I thought did an incredible job. Yeah, I think, you know, Tennis Australia is a really strong federation. You know, we've got capabilities to do a lot.

I think in the whole performance phase, we've done a pretty good job over the last couple of years about showing strength in numbers. Especially in the men's side in the top 100.

Yeah, I think there's definitely places we can grow, and I'm excited to see what the vision is going to be.

Q. How do these conditions change the way you see your game on this surface? I'm guessing it's pretty helpful for you.

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, it's quite funny, because last week Hamburg was slow, heavy, rainy. The ball was not moving anywhere. That's exactly the week that got me out of the slump, right? In theory, my toughest conditions.

So last week gave me a heap of confidence. I feel like I got my mojo back. It was a critical week for me.

Obviously going now into these conditions it is a little bit to adapt, because I haven't had as much time as I would like, but I've always preferred hot and lively conditions to chilly on a clay court, because I feel like I can bring a little bit more of my all-court tennis on this type of surface.

It's easier to be a little bit more aggressive. You know, the ball is jumping. I don't necessarily have to use as much spin or heaviness, and I can let the conditions do the job for me. And, also, it's quite physical, right? I don't mind the heat.

Q. Alex, I'm curious how you found it to face Toby? I don't think he'd ever even played someone in the top 100 before. I'm sure you can remember your first slam appearance. How did it feel on the court against him?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I think I wanted to give him credit for obviously qualifying here at the French Open, which is one of the toughest tasks, I would say, on tour. He obviously played some incredible tennis.

Yeah, it was a battle. It was a physical battle. The first two sets was just a break here and there. He got up to an early break in the second set, and I really had to dig deep.

Look, I'm sure there's going to be many more opportunities for him. Yeah, he's got lots of weapons, and I think he can be a dangerous player.

Q. I'm trying to understand more about the movement of sliding. Do you remember as a child learning the mechanics of it? Obviously it may now be natural to you, but can you kind of break that down for us?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think on a clay court you probably, yeah, you learn the mechanics a little bit more. As a kid, I generally -- when I grew up I had big feet, right, and I was quite uncoordinated, so I did a lot of hours on footwork technique, whether it was movement or kind of sliding technique, and just doing my best to make sure that I was balanced. So I did a lot of hours on that.

Thankfully as I got a little bit older, I grew into my body, and it all kind of clicked together. I think it's probably the reason why I'm able to move the way that I do now.

Sliding on a clay court and a hard court is quite different. I feel like on a hard court you just got to trust yourself, and ultimately if you go with enough speed, I'm sure you'll put in a proper slide.

Q. Next round you've got a guy who you had quite a tussle with last time. He's one of the rising stars, really. Can you run us through your thoughts on what you are going to face?

ALEX de MINAUR: Alexander Blockx, he's, as you said, one of the young talents. He's been playing some really good tennis.

We had a battle in Monaco where before that he beat some quality players. He backed it up week after week. In Madrid and in Rome had some really good tournaments playing some good tennis.

He's a big kid, big serve, big forehand, dangerous player. Yeah, it's going to be a battle, right, in this heat, and my goal is going to be to make it physical, extend rallies. I think both learnt a lot from the first match, and we'll see who gets on top.

As I said, I feel good. I feel happy with the way I'm playing, and I'm excited for the challenge.

Q. What is your mindset when you go into majors these days? Are you targeting something in particular, confidence levels, et cetera? How has it differed from the early days when you are still new and you still haven't had the full experience of playing majors?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I think it's kind of natural. I've been, in a way, fortunate that now, I guess, my goals and expectations kind of are different to what they were when I first started.

At the start of my career it was all about trying to win a match. You'd be over the moon for getting through your first round, and that would be almost like you get to the next round and a little bit of a letdown.

I feel like over the years I've understood that my goal as a tennis player and, you know, in these types of events is to do my best to keep my head down and get through matches, right? It doesn't need to be pretty. It doesn't need to be the most amazing matches.

As long as I can keep getting through these types of matches and rounds, they all accumulate, and they all add incredible kind of confidence.

I feel like I'm a player that plays better as the tournament goes on. So I become, at the same time, more dangerous as the tournament kind of goes along.

For me, that's the goal. Nothing about looking ahead. I'm focused on day by day and the match in front of me and just finding a way to get through.