Alex de Minaur is a ‘paradox’ on clay. Wally Masur explains how his global upbringing influences his game
Alex de Minaur, the world No. 9 and Australia’s top tennis player, has been described as a “paradox” on clay by Aussie tennis great Wally Masur, a label that captures the unique blend of strengths and challenges in his game on the red dirt. As De Minaur launched his Roland Garros 2025 campaign against Serbia’s Laslo Djere on May 27, 2025, Masur’s analysis, shared on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily, highlighted how De Minaur’s global upbringing—spanning Australia, Spain, and a multicultural family—has molded his distinctive playing style, enabling his remarkable 2024 quarterfinal run while posing hurdles against bigger opponents.
Masur’s Paradox: Clay Comfort vs. Linear Style
Masur pointed out that De Minaur’s formative years on clay in Spain, where he lived from age five to 13, gave him a deep understanding of the surface. “He knows how to move on it, he’s very comfortable on the surface, and he knows how to construct his points,” Masur said, per Nine.com.au. His early training in Alicante under Adolfo Gutierrez ingrained sliding techniques and point-building strategies suited to clay’s slower pace. However, Masur noted a paradox: De Minaur’s game remains “very linear,” relying on flat groundstrokes and aggressive returns honed on Australia’s hard courts after his return at 13. This style, less spin-heavy than traditional clay-courters like Rafael Nadal, can falter against “bigger players with really heavy ball” who lift shots above shoulder height, exploiting De Minaur’s 6-foot frame and lighter 69 kg build. “Where he can come a little unstuck is when he tries to take it on,” Masur explained, suggesting De Minaur’s instinct to attack clashes with clay’s demand for patience.
Global Upbringing’s Influence
De Minaur’s multicultural background—born in Sydney to a Uruguayan father, Anibal, and Spanish mother, Esther, with siblings across both cultures—shaped his adaptability. His five years in Spain exposed him to clay’s nuances, as he told The Guardian: “I was brought up more in a different way, I played a different style of tennis and my groundstrokes were never as spinny and heavy as someone that grew up on the surface.” Returning to Australia, he refined his speed and counterpunching on hard courts, earning the nickname “The Demon” for his relentless defense. This hybrid upbringing allows him to slide adeptly on clay while leveraging his tour-leading return game (No. 1 on clay in 2025, per SMH). However, his flatter shots, less effective against high-bouncing topspin, reflect his Australian hard-court polish, creating the paradox Masur describes.
Clay Evolution and 2025 Outlook
De Minaur’s 2024 Roland Garros quarterfinal, where he upset Daniil Medvedev (4-6, 6-2, 6-1, 6-3), marked a turning point, with his joyous cry, “I love the clay!” signaling newfound confidence. His 2025 clay season, including a Monte Carlo semifinal and 9-4 record, shows progress, with strategic adjustments like varying angles and depths, as he told Tennis Channel: “I’ve started to understand what makes me effective on a clay court.” His serve has also improved, with first-serve points won rising to 74% in 2025 from 64% in 2022, per SMH. Yet, Masur warns that facing taller, power-hitting opponents like Jannik Sinner (potential quarterfinal) or Jack Draper (possible fourth round) could test his physical disadvantages.
Connections to French Open Broader Narratives
De Minaur’s clay paradox mirrors the 2025 French Open’s themes of adaptation and resilience. Like Emma Raducanu’s battle against Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka’s emotional clay struggles, De Minaur navigates a surface that tests his limits. Taylor Fritz’s revenue advocacy and Coco Gauff’s bold predictions reflect players pushing boundaries, akin to De Minaur’s clay reinvention. Off-field, Jack Grealish’s transfer saga and Luke Littler’s darts controversy echo the external pressures De Minaur faces as Australia’s flagbearer. As he faces Djere, with a 3-0 head-to-head edge, De Minaur’s ability to blend his global influences—Spanish clay savvy and Australian grit—will determine if he can resolve his paradox and go deep at Roland Garros.
