Alex de Minaur proves he’s the nicest guy in tennis with heartwarming act of sportsmanship during his tennis match victory
Alex de Minaur, Australia’s world No. 8 and one of the ATP Tour’s most consistent performers, has been widely praised for a heartwarming display of sportsmanship during his first-round victory at the 2025 Australian Open. The 26-year-old “Demon” defeated Botic van de Zandschulp 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on January 14, 2025, on Rod Laver Arena, advancing to the second round in straight sets. But it was de Minaur’s classy moment in the second set that stole the show, earning him the moniker “the nicest guy in tennis” from fans and commentators alike. In a rare act of fairness, de Minaur alerted his opponent to a new ball in play and offered him the chance to inspect it, showcasing integrity over advantage in a high-stakes Grand Slam match.
The Match: A Solid Start Down Under
De Minaur, seeded eighth and Australia’s top hope for a deep run, started strongly against the 24-year-old Dutchman, ranked No. 49. He raced through the first set in just 26 minutes, breaking serve twice to lead 6-1. The second set was tighter, with van de Zandschulp pushing back to force de Minaur to save set points. De Minaur held firm, breaking in the ninth game and serving out the 7-5 win. The third set saw him maintain control, breaking once for a 6-4 victory in 2 hours and 15 minutes. The win marks de Minaur’s 10th consecutive first-round major victory and sets up a second-round clash with American Tristan Boyer.
De Minaur’s form has been solid in 2025, with 41 wins overall, including an ATP 500 title in Washington. At home, he’s hunting a maiden Grand Slam, having reached his first major quarterfinal here in 2024. “It’s always special to start at the Australian Open,” de Minaur said post-match. “The crowd gives you that extra energy.”
The Heartwarming Sportsmanship Moment
The defining act came in the second set, at 1-1 on van de Zandschulp’s serve. As de Minaur received the ball from the ball kid, he noticed it was a brand-new one—typically an advantage for the server due to its extra bounce. Instead of staying silent, de Minaur immediately informed the umpire and approached the net to offer van de Zandschulp the chance to inspect and compare it to the others in play. “They just put a new ball in. Have a look, compare it to the others. You tell me if you’re fine with it,” de Minaur said, as captured on broadcast.
Van de Zandschulp, surprised but appreciative, checked the ball and opted to continue. De Minaur then removed the new ball from the rotation, ensuring fairness. The gesture briefly distracted de Minaur, leading to a double fault to open the game, but he recovered to break later. Commentators Todd Woodbridge and John Millman on Channel Nine were effusive: “Alex showing incredible sportsmanship—he didn’t have to tell Botic about the new ball,” Woodbridge said. Millman added, “Not just that—he gave it back to the umpire and won’t serve with it. That’s class; as a server, you want the new ball!”
The moment went viral, with fans on X praising de Minaur: “The nicest guy in tennis—Alex de Minaur alerting his opponent to a new ball? Pure class! 🇦🇺” (@TheTennisLetter). Another posted, “De Minaur’s sportsmanship at AO is heartwarming. That’s why he’s a fan favorite” (@TennisFanatic22).
De Minaur’s History of Class Acts
This isn’t the first time de Minaur has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship. In the 2023 Washington Open final, he consoled a distraught Alejandro Davidovich Fokina after saving three match points to win 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(2), sitting with him courtside in a viral embrace. Davidovich Fokina later thanked him on social media: “Honored to compete against such a great player and person.” De Minaur also flew with Fokina to Toronto post-match, showing camaraderie beyond rivalry.
At the 2025 Washington Open, de Minaur again comforted a shattered Fokina after a three-set final win. These gestures align with de Minaur’s character, shaped by his multicultural background (born in Sydney to Uruguayan and Spanish parents) and emphasis on respect. “Tennis is tough—wins and losses hurt. A kind word can go a long way,” he said in a 2024 interview
Fan and Expert Praise: “The Nicest Guy in Tennis”
The Australian Open moment has solidified de Minaur’s reputation. Woodbridge called it “one of the classiest acts I’ve seen,” while Millman added, “Incredible—servers want new balls, but Alex put fairness first.” Fans echoed this, with one X post: “De Minaur proving he’s the nicest guy in tennis. Heartwarming sportsmanship! ❤️” (@AusTennisFan). Experts like Jim Courier noted, “This is why we love sports—fierce competition with real respect.”
De Minaur’s fiancé, Katie Boulter, also advanced with a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win over Rebecca Marino, and the couple celebrated together, with de Minaur cheering from her box. As he eyes a deep Melbourne run, this act reminds why de Minaur is beloved: talent meets humility.
