Alex de Minaur is set to build on his recent ATP Tour success as he competes at the Rotterdam Open this week.
The Australian arrives in the Netherlands fresh off quarter-final appearances in the past four Grand Slams and a solid position inside the world’s top 10.
Following an Australian Open campaign that ended in the last eight against eventual champion Jannik Sinner, De Minaur is eager to continue his strong form at the year’s first ATP 500 event.
“I think showing the consistency of making the quarters in the last four Slams is something that I don’t take lightly by any means,” De Minaur said on Monday. “It’s a great platform to build on. I want more.”
Tennis betting sites have him at $7.50 to claim the title in Rotterdam, trailing behind favorites Carlos Alcaraz ($2.70) and Daniil Medvedev ($4.60).
However, De Minaur believes he has made significant progress since this time last year and sees a real opportunity to capture his first title of the season.
“I do feel like I’ve taken big steps in the right direction in the last year,” he said. “I’ve improved as a player.
“Last year, a lot happened. I was injured for a good part of the year, yet I still managed to achieve some great results.
“This year, the goal is to stay healthy and maintain that same trajectory.
“Hopefully, that will take me to bigger and better things.
“I don’t think I’ve hit my ceiling yet. It’s exciting, and I’m looking forward to what this year has in store.”
The World No. 8 also reflected on the increased media attention he has received in recent years, particularly during his home Slam in Melbourne.
“It’s funny how things change,” he said. “Two years ago, I was No. 11 or 12. Then I moved up one or two spots, and it made such a big difference.
“In terms of media attention, pressure, and expectations, all of that increased.
“But over the years, I’ve definitely felt the love in Australia.
“The spotlight is there—it’s the start of the season and your home Slam. There are a lot of things that come with it.”
De Minaur will feel less pressure as he begins his Rotterdam Open campaign against veteran David Goffin on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old is a strong favorite among top online bookmakers, returning just $1.10 to win compared to Goffin’s $7.
