De Minaur hot heading into Dubai, but not satisfied : “I still believe I’ve got more in the tank”
Alex de Minaur Eyes Breakthrough at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships
Heading into the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships as the No. 2 seed, Alex de Minaur is shaping up as a serious title contender. With an impressive 13-3 record in the first two months of the 2025 season, the Australian has shown remarkable consistency, with his only losses coming against Jannik Sinner (Australian Open quarter-finals), Carlos Alcaraz (Rotterdam final), and Andrey Rublev (Doha quarter-finals)—each of whom went on to win their respective tournaments.
A Strong Start to 2025
De Minaur remains optimistic about his form, recognizing that his performances against top-tier opponents indicate he is heading in the right direction.
“I’m pretty happy with the way I’ve started the year,” the world No. 8 said. “I’ve played some great tennis. I lost to Jannik, I lost to Carlos, and then I lost to Andrey after having a match point. Obviously, the last one stings a little because I feel like I had my chances, but it just slipped away at the very end.
“But it’s all about putting myself in those situations, giving myself the opportunity to play a lot of matches—and win a lot of matches. I’m doing the right things. I’m confident that it’s going to lead me in the right direction and help me achieve the goals I want to achieve.”
Pushing for the Next Level
While De Minaur has claimed nine ATP titles, seven have come at the 250 level, and he has yet to win a tournament above the ATP 500 category. His best Masters 1000 result remains a runner-up finish in Toronto two years ago, and he is still searching for his first Grand Slam semi-final after going 0-5 in major quarter-finals.
However, this version of De Minaur appears ready to take the next step.
“The way I finished [2024] and everything that happened last year just gave me a lot of hunger and motivation to keep working hard, keep trying to improve on the little things that I can,” the 26-year-old Aussie reflected. “I was very happy with what I achieved, but I still believe I’ve got more in the tank. Ultimately, I just want to fulfill that.”
With his sights set on a deeper run in the biggest tournaments, De Minaur will be eager to make a statement in Dubai. If his early-season form is anything to go by, a breakthrough title at the ATP 500 level may be just around the corner.
