Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur feels no pressure to replicate his previous United Cup success as he returns to Ken Rosewall Arena. The world No. 9 will take on Argentina’s Tomas Etcheverry on Saturday in Australia’s first Cup match.
Back in January, de Minaur wowed the tennis world with inspired victories over top players like Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, using the United Cup as a launchpad for his best-ever 2024 season. His stellar performances helped Australia reach the semi-finals, though eventual winners Germany advanced to the final after defeats in the women’s singles and mixed doubles.
Now, as the 25-year-old Sydney native prepares to take the court again, he remains focused on enjoying the moment rather than feeling pressure to surpass last year’s success. “I’ve never associated playing in Australia with pressure,” de Minaur said on Friday. “For me, it’s always been about excitement. Playing in front of a home crowd is something I look forward to every year because it doesn’t happen often, and it always brings out my best tennis.”
De Minaur is once again aiming to use the tournament as a springboard for the upcoming Australian Open. Beyond his personal goals, he’s also eager to lead Australia to their first team title since the 2016 Hopman Cup. Australia, captained by Lleyton Hewitt, were knocked out of the Davis Cup semi-finals by Italy in November after finishing as runners-up the previous year.
Hewitt, reflecting on the team’s journey, emphasized the challenge of winning these team events. “The biggest thing is we keep knocking on the door,” Hewitt said. “We’ve come really close, but it’s tough when you’re up against teams with generational greats and legends of the game. We’ll do the necessary preparation and give it our best, but we don’t take anything for granted.”
Australia’s United Cup campaign will kick off with young star Olivia Gadecki facing Nadia Podoroska, followed by de Minaur’s clash with Etcheverry and a mixed doubles match. With home-court advantage and the excitement of a new season, de Minaur and Team Australia are ready to make another strong showing.
