THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 4, 2026

Alex De Minaur

Press Conference

A. de MINAUR/Z. Svajda

6-2, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Alex, how was that for you today?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I thought it was a high-quality match. You know, a lot of credit to Zach. He's an immensely talented player, and made my life very, very difficult.

You know, I was happy that I was kind of able to stay strong mentally and kind of stay with that level and keep that level throughout the third and fourth set. And I felt that that was key to kind of get the win today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. It felt quite technical, the match today. There were quite a few slices, left, right, and center. You had to mix up your shots. Were you comfortable with that?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, look, I think, you know, Zach's got incredible timing off the ball. You know, the first set threw me off probably a little bit. I thought he probably didn't start the best he could.

Then the contrast from the first to the second was pretty big. He started being a lot more aggressive, hitting through the ball, changing directions a lot more. I felt like, you know, my slice was being quite effective in the first set, and then it became ineffective.

He's a smart player, and I think, you know, we both kind of play somewhat similar. We both like to move the ball around the court. Probably don't have the highest revolutions on the balls.

So it made for quite some, in my eyes, entertaining tennis.

Q. Going on from what you were saying, first set to second set, did you feel like you got a bit passive in that second set? Obviously he's a guy who can generate power easily, but did you feel you got too passive early in rallies?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, probably. I think he got that out of me, to be honest. I think the way he stepped it up made me probably take a step back and kind of give him a little bit more time on the ball. Definitely he was having a little bit more of a swing. I thought his level definitely raised.

I did well to really kind of just hang in there and keep fighting. And I really thought, you know, that if I could just manage to maybe get to a tiebreak, then I was going to hope that in a couple of those big moments maybe I could get on top.

To be fair, talked with the team before the match, and we knew that Zach was capable of something like this. Kind of the mindset was to compete, to stay with him, and to kind of maintain that level throughout the match. Just, you know, hope that at some point that he'll drop.

I thought that he dropped a little bit in the third set, and I was able to kind of get that momentum back.

Q. There has been a lot of discontent among the ATP doubles players about the proposed changes that would halve their size of the draws and reduce the amount of proportional prize money to doubles players. What's your perspective on that?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, I mean, I have heard of it, as we all have heard of it. Look, I'm a singles player. I play the occasional doubles. I'm not in those meetings, making those decisions.

I don't have much to say or much input when it comes to that. I kind of do as I'm told. As I said, my schedule for many, many years has consisted of playing singles. I haven't played doubles at a slam for a long time.

My real focus is just singles, and I'm just trying to do the best I can on that.

Q. In general, do you recognize, do you think doubles has a place in the sport? Strong, prominent place in the sport? Or if it's not financially viable...

ALEX de MINAUR: I mean, we've got to look at the numbers, right? I couldn't tell you right now. I don't have the numbers in front of me. And like everything, you know, if it's working, then I'm sure there wouldn't have been cuts, right? But I don't have the numbers in front of me.

So look, I know a lot of these players, they train, they put in the hours, they do all the training that any other player does. It's obviously not nice to see, but yeah, it all comes down to probably numbers.

I'm not sitting at the table knowing what these numbers are, but I'm assuming that if these decisions have been made, it's for a reason.

Q. From here on, how are you feeling about pushing? There's only 16 guys left in the draw. One of them is the winner. How do you feel? How's your form? The mental side of it all?

ALEX de MINAUR: I feel great. I'm happy to get through the first week. You know, this is, you know, the first goal of the tournament, obviously.

Yeah, it's getting down to kind of crunch time, I guess. I'm happy with the way I have been playing. The body is feeling great. I thought today was probably the best I moved around the court. I'm feeling confident sliding from both sides, which is kind of a key aspect.

Yeah, now it's about building, right? Take what's in front of you. Don't look too far ahead. Keep that tunnel vision. That's basically it.

I have been in this position before, so I've got the experience. I know what I need to do, what I don't need to do. Hopefully, I can go out there in the second week and bring some of my best tennis yet.

Q. Can I ask what this club and tournament means to you as an Australian player? Also, I was looking at the boys singles 2017: A. de Minaur lost to D. Shapovalov. Have you got memories losing in that final and what you feel about the tournament since then?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, since the very first time I stepped on these grounds, I knew how special it was, as a junior, to kind of be around in those times.

I think it was a Sunday where there was just no play, right? So we got to see the grounds completely empty. Playing the tournament, getting to the final, getting very close in that match, yeah, it's an amazing place to be.

Over the last couple of years, I have been fortunate enough to come to the club whilst the tournament is not on with Katie, so we've been able to enjoy it when the chaos is not on (smiling). We have had some nice dinners here. Used the incredible facilities, the indoor courts, the gym.

Yeah, I'm quite, I would say, a little bit of a local here, and it's one of the better places to be.

Q. I wonder whether you watched the Socceroos' heartbreak last night. I notice the Wallabies lost today. Do you think you put a smile back on Australia today?

ALEX de MINAUR: Look, I'm just one person. I'm hoping I helped, even if it's a little bit.

But definitely, we watched the Socceroos last night. It was heartbreaking. But incredibly proud of the efforts of those boys. They kind of left their heart out from the very first minute till the end. They came in as underdogs. Nobody really expected much. They put in a hell of a battle, and it was just a little bit cruel that it didn't kind of go our way.

But, yeah, I guess it's fun every four years to kind of show the rest of the world that, you know, the Socceroos have some level to them.

Q. I think you have played all your matches on Court 3. What is it about that court that you really like, you feel comfortable with, and have you also requested to be on there for some of the matches?

ALEX de MINAUR: No, I haven't requested anything. Just the way the schedule has worked. It's been a good court. You know, it's a small court with a great atmosphere, I think, and I feel like it's been quite vocal, right? The Aussies have been supporting me. It's been great to play on that court.

I'm assuming at some stage I shall be moved off that court. But yeah, it's been great whilst it lasted.

Q. If you look ahead to the next match, we don't know yet, but first, if you could just evaluate Karen and also with Flavio?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, they just split. Yeah, Flavio, playing some great Grand Slam tennis, coming from making the final of the French with a lot of confidence.

And Karen, he's an experienced player here at Wimbledon. I think he always plays some great tennis at this tournament. He's always one that you've got to beat.

Two tough opponents. I do think that I'm going to have to step it up in the next match. But saying that, I feel like I'm playing at a high level, right?

I feel like I'm where I want to be. I'm in a good position. Body's feeling good. Mentally I'm feeling fresh. I think this is when I'm my most dangerous. I'm hoping that I can put two and two together and play a good match.

Q. You have spoken about you want to break new ground at Grand Slams, to feel like you're progressing. A match like today where the momentum switches in that second set, are there lessons that can be learned in these types of matches that can help you down the track?

ALEX de MINAUR: Yeah, for sure. I think I need to remind myself more frequently that, you know, best-of-five is a complete different beast, right? I normally, you know, get a little bit frustrated if the opponent plays a good set, right? But what I really should be thinking is that they need to do that for three sets, right, in a row. That's not the easiest task to accomplish.

On the other side is someone that's going to make him play every single point and is going to make him work, right? Not only are you going to have to feel the ball exceptionally well and to hit your targets, but you're also going to physically have to last the long run.

As we're kind of get into the tail end of this tournament, there's going to be probably some heat coming, so I'm looking forward to that, and hopefully I can, yeah, take that and just roll with it.