Alex de Minaur, Australia’s No. 1 and World No. 12, heads into Wimbledon 2025, starting June 30, grappling with self-doubt after a challenging season, urging himself to “stop obsessing about rankings” to rediscover his love for tennis. In a candid June 27 interview with *The Age*, de Minaur said, “The way I looked at it—what is healthy for me—is to stop obsessing about rankings… and try to go back to a place where I’m just enjoying playing tennis,” acknowledging the mental toll of the ATP’s grueling schedule. His decision to skip the ’s-Hertogenbosch grass-court event, which he won in 2024, cost him a top-10 ranking, dropping him to No. 11 seed at Wimbledon, per *SMH*.[](https://www.theage.com.au/sport/tennis/stop-obsessing-about-rankings-why-alex-de-minaur-is-returning-to-wimbledon-wracked-with-doubts-20250626-p5mala.html)
De Minaur’s 2025 has been marked by highs and lows. His 2024 Wimbledon quarterfinal run, a career milestone, ended abruptly with a hip injury forcing his withdrawal against Novak Djokovic, a match he called “the biggest of my career,” per *ATP Tour*. The injury lingered, impacting his form, though he still reached the US Open and Australian Open quarterfinals, per *The Guardian*. A shock second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at Roland Garros (2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2) exposed his burnout, prompting a two-week break to “live like a normal human being,” including coffees, dinners, and golf, per *Tennis Australia*. This hiatus, while refreshing, led to a first-round Queen’s Club exit to Jiří Lehečka (6-4, 6-2), leaving him “undercooked” with no competitive grass matches, per *7NEWS*.
Facing a tough Wimbledon draw, de Minaur opens against Roberto Carballes Baena, with a potential second-round clash against Adam Walton, third-round against No. 21 Tomas Machac, and a daunting fourth-round rematch with Djokovic, per *The Age*. Despite his grass-court prowess, including a 2021 Eastbourne title and 2023 Queen’s final, de Minaur’s limited preparation and mental fatigue raise concerns, per *The First Serve AU*. He aims to adopt a “big player mentality,” focusing on major events over rankings, but as *SMH* notes, his success may hinge on overcoming the self-doubt his comments reveal. Leading Australia’s largest Wimbledon contingent in 30 years with 17 singles players, de Minaur’s resolve will be tested, per *Tennis Australia*.
