Alex de Minaur left concerned after being given a ‘warning sign’ as he plans discussion with his coaching team

By Patrickads On Oct 16, 2025

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Alex de Minaur’s Hip Injury Scare: ‘Warning Signs’ Prompt Urgent Team Discussions

Alex de Minaur, Australia’s world No. 7 and the nation’s top hope for a home Grand Slam breakthrough, is grappling with a concerning flare-up of his recurring hip injury that has prompted “warning signs” and immediate plans for in-depth discussions with his coaching team. The 26-year-old withdrew from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) in Hong Kong on October 13—just two days before its start—after arriving in the city and attempting practice, where pain in his left hip proved too severe to risk competing. In a candid statement, de Minaur revealed he is “worried” about the issue, which links back to a 2024 strain, and will consult doctors for scans in Melbourne. His coach Matt Reid confirmed the decision was “purely for injury prevention,” but the timing raises alarms for de Minaur’s Australian summer preparations, including the United Cup and Australian Open, where a top-5 ranking could unlock seeding advantages against rivals like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

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The Withdrawal and De Minaur’s Statement: “I Have Had No Choice”
De Minaur’s announcement came after he and his team flew to Hong Kong with optimism, but the pain escalated during practice at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium. In his emotional statement shared on social media and the ATP Tour website on October 12, the Australian detailed the heartbreak of the decision:

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> “I’ve always wanted to come here to Hong Kong, so I tried everything I could to play this tournament. However, it now seems I haven’t physically recovered quickly enough, as I was feeling the pain even before working on the practice court. We flew in, we tried to practice, I just have too much pain in my hip. After discussing with my team, I have had no choice but to withdraw and meet my doctors for a proper assessment. I have been amazed by the excellent venue for the Hong Kong leg of the tour and the outstanding player lineup, which is sure to deliver an incredibly exciting tournament for everyone. I hope everyone thoroughly enjoys the competition, and I look forward to hopefully returning to Hong Kong soon to put on a great show for you all in the future.”

The statement’s tone of regret highlights de Minaur’s eagerness for the event, his first since a strong Asian swing capped by 50 tour-level wins—the most for an Australian since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004. American Jenson Brooksby replaced him in the eight-player field, with UTS organizer Patrick Mouratoglou adding: “Alex’s health comes first. We wish him a speedy recovery.”

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Reid’s Update: “Warning Signs” and Injury Prevention Focus
De Minaur’s coach, Matt Reid, provided further clarity in an exclusive interview with The First Serve podcast on October 13, linking the issue to a previous hip tear but emphasizing proactive management. “Alex started to feel pain at the start of the week,” Reid explained. “It’s linked to the same hip problem from last year. We tried everything, but it’s purely for injury prevention—we don’t want to risk the summer.” The warning signs include swelling after long rallies and tightness in lateral movements, exacerbated by de Minaur’s grueling schedule of 69 matches in 2025 (50 wins, 19 losses).

Reid remained optimistic about the timeline: “We’re not panicking—scans in Melbourne will give us clarity, but it’s manageable with rest and targeted rehab. Alex is tough; he’ll be at his best for Paris and Turin.” Coach Adriaan van den Berghem noted the cumulative toll: “His work rate is elite, but the body’s sending signals.” De Minaur himself echoed the caution in a pre-withdrawal update to Nine: “This is something that I can’t take any chances with. Last year it sidelined me for almost three or four months, and I played the rest of the year with pain. Now, it’s warning signs, I need to make sure everything is good.”

The Injury’s Roots: A Recurring Issue Since 2024
De Minaur’s left hip strain dates back to June 2024, when he retired in the Queen’s Club quarterfinal against Jordan Thompson after a dive for a drop shot. The tear forced him to skip Olympic singles in Paris (focusing on doubles with Alexei Popyrin for bronze) and resurfaced after his Shanghai quarterfinal loss to Daniil Medvedev (6-4, 6-4) on October 10. “There’s too much tennis,” de Minaur vented after a 2025 Roland Garros exit, a sentiment now prophetic. Medical reports suggest 4-6 weeks for full recovery, but de Minaur’s team aims for a Paris-Bercy return (October 27-November 2) to secure a top-5 year-end ranking (495 points from No. 5 Djokovic).

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Implications for the Aussie Summer: A High-Stakes Balancing Act
The withdrawal casts long shadows over Australia’s “summer of tennis,” where de Minaur is the cornerstone:
– **United Cup (December 27-January 4)**: No. 1 singles and mixed doubles with fiancée Katie Boulter in Group F vs. Great Britain and Chile (500 points potential).
– **Australian Open (January 12-26)**: Aiming for top-5 seeding to avoid early Jannik Sinner (0-11 head-to-head) or Carlos Alcaraz (0-4) clashes; his best: quarters in 2025.
– **Davis Cup Finals Group (September 2025, Bologna)**: Lleyton Hewitt’s captain’s pick.

Hewitt, de Minaur’s Davis Cup captain, downplayed fears to Nine News on October 14: “The warning signs are there, but Alex is a fighter—we’ve got our summer.” A deep Paris run could unlock top-5 status and AO seeding, but pushing risks chronic issues like Nick Kyrgios’ hip saga.

Fan and Expert Support: “Rest Up, Demon”
Social media rallied under #DemonHip: “Gutted for Alex, but smart call—AO’s the dream!” (200k likes). Nick Kyrgios tweeted: “Hip woes suck—get well, Minaur. Australia’s got your back.” Reid’s update offers hope: “Alex is tough—he’ll be ready.” As de Minaur heads for Melbourne scans on October 15, the dilemma is real: Health now, or risk the home Slam. The Demon’s fire burns; Australia waits.

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