Tennis icon Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion and former World No. 1, has long been a vocal supporter of Alex de Minaur’s grinding style. But after the Australian’s unbeaten heroics at the 2025 Laver Cup—where he spearheaded Team World’s 15-9 victory with a 6-1, 6-4 upset over Alexander Zverev and a gritty doubles win alongside Alex Michelsen—Roddick called out a persistent misconception about the 26-year-old’s game.
The Misunderstanding: “He’s Just a Counterpuncher”
Roddick, speaking on his *Served with Andy Roddick* podcast post-Laver Cup, blasted the “lazy” label that paints de Minaur as merely a defensive counterpuncher. “People say he’s just a counterpuncher, like that’s some knock on him,” Roddick said. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. Alex is a creator—he dictates points, he’s aggressive off both wings, and his speed turns defense into offense faster than anyone.” Roddick emphasized de Minaur’s evolution: From early-career reliance on court coverage to his 2025 breakout, where he’s racked up 29 hard-court wins (ATP-leading) and titles in Washington and Acapulco, blending flat groundstrokes with net approaches.
The former American star, who admires de Minaur’s work ethic (trained under Lleyton Hewitt’s guidance), argued the tag ignores his offensive firepower: “Watch him against Zverev—those forehand lasers? That’s not countering; that’s imposing your will.” Roddick’s take aligns with de Minaur’s own frustrations, shared after a 2025 Canadian Open win over Frances Tiafoe: “Critics say I’m just speedy defense… It fires me up to prove ’em wrong.”
Why It Persists—and Why It’s Wrong
The “counterpuncher” narrative stems from de Minaur’s elite speed (fastest on tour, per Novak Djokovic) and ability to retrieve impossible balls, evoking David Ferrer more than a Federer-style attacker. His pre-2025 Slam quarters (US Open 2020, French/Wimbledon/Aus Open 2024) often ended in five-set epics against big hitters like Djokovic or Alcaraz, reinforcing the view. But 2025 stats debunk it: 68% first-serve points won, 42% break points converted, and 28 winners per match—top-10 marks for aggression.
Roddick, who faced similar “serve-only” jabs in his prime, sees de Minaur as a modern hybrid: “He’s got Federer’s touch at net, Nadal’s fire, and my serve-volley dreams. People undervalue that because he makes it look effortless.” The Laver Cup, where de Minaur earned seven points (including a bloodied-ear doubles stand), silenced doubters, pushing his ranking to a career-high No. 6.
Roddick’s Bigger Picture: De Minaur’s Ceiling
Roddick predicts de Minaur, now dating British star Katie Boulter, could crack the top 3 by 2026: “If he adds a bigger serve, Slams are his. He’s not punching—he’s leading the counter.” With the Asian swing underway (Beijing next), de Minaur embodies Roddick’s ethos: Relentless, underrated, ready to roar.
