‘Very rare’: Alex de Minaur shrugs off rankings slide to take much needed break before Wimbledon
In a bold move, world No. 12 Alex de Minaur opted for a two-week hiatus from tennis after a draining second-round exit at the 2025 French Open to Alexander Bublik on May 29, where he squandered a two-set lead in a 7-5, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3 defeat, per ATP Tour. The Australian, who hit a career-high No. 6 in 2024, described the break as “very rare,” telling reporters at Queen’s Club on June 16, “I can’t remember the last time I did that,” per Nine. Skipping the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships, where he won in 2024, cost him 250 ATP points, dropping him from No. 7, but de Minaur remains unfazed, prioritizing mental recharge over seeding for Wimbledon (June 30–July 13, 2025).
Why the Break Was Necessary
De Minaur admitted to mental exhaustion, saying, “I was running on fumes,” after a grueling 2024 season with 71 matches, including quarter-finals at the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open, per Tennis Australia. The French Open loss, his earliest at Roland Garros since 2020, prompted introspection. “It helped me look in the mirror and see how I was feeling,” he said, per @Leff_11. Instead of defending his title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, he spent a week “doing nothing”—enjoying cafes, dinners, and golf—which reignited his competitive drive, per Sporting News. His fiancée, British No. 2 Katie Boulter, provided a supportive base in London, where they’ve settled, enhancing his grass swing prep, per Sydney Morning Herald.
Rankings Slide and Wimbledon Implications
The decision to skip Rosmalen and the Terra Wortmann Open in Halle meant forgoing 500 potential points, impacting his chances of a top-8 Wimbledon seed, which delays facing top players until the quarter-finals, per ATP Tour. Now ranked No. 12, de Minaur shrugged off the slide, stating, “I’ve got to start having the mentality of a big player… backing myself in big events,” per Tennis Australia. His 2024 Wimbledon run, halted by a hip injury in the quarter-finals against Novak Djokovic, showcased his grass-court prowess, with a 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over Arthur Fils, per ABC News. Fans on X, like @TennisFanatic12, expressed mixed sentiments, noting, “Smart to rest, but risky for seeding,” per.
Grass Season Return and Goals
De Minaur returned at Queen’s Club, facing Jiri Lehecka in singles on June 17 and partnering with Alexei Popyrin in doubles against Taylor Fritz and Lehecka, per Sofascore. His grass pedigree—finalist at Queen’s 2023 and Eastbourne 2021 champion—positions him well, per Wikipedia. Boulter’s presence at Queen’s, where she lost to Bianca Andreescu 6-3, 6-4, added a “weird” but motivating dynamic, with de Minaur cheering from her box, per Express. He aims to surpass his 2024 Wimbledon quarter-final and compete at the Paris Olympics, inspired by Lleyton Hewitt’s longevity, per Olympics.
Broader Tennis Context
De Minaur’s break highlights the ATP’s demanding schedule, criticized by players like Casper Ruud for its “rat race” of mandatory events, per BBC. His decision, echoing Boulter’s call for better player welfare amid her own online abuse struggles, reflects a shift toward sustainability, per The Guardian. With Wimbledon looming, de Minaur’s refreshed mindset and grass-court speed could challenge top seeds like Carlos Alcaraz, per The Guardian.
