Australia’s Alex de Minaur is determined to make his mark on the clay-court season, calling it a critical part of his year. The 26-year-old is currently competing in both singles and doubles at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
While his singles opponent is yet to be confirmed, de Minaur and his doubles partner, Jan-Lennard Struff, are off to a strong start. The pair secured a first-round win over Yuki Bhambri and Alexei Popyrin, coming from behind to win 5-7, 7-5, 10-5.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports, de Minaur emphasized the importance of excelling on clay:
“It’s definitely a very physical part of the year. With clay, it’s about consistency, building points, and a bit of creativity. You’ve got to find different ways to win as the rallies get longer and more demanding.
It’s an important part of the season for me. I really push myself mentally during this time to give it everything, because I know the grass season is right around the corner — and I don’t need any extra motivation for that.”
De Minaur has had a promising start to 2025. He reached the final of the Australian Open, ultimately falling to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Reflecting on that experience, he admitted it was tough to process, especially losing in front of a home crowd.
“I wouldn’t say it took too much time [to recover]. I just had to come to terms with it. Jannik was just too good — and I wasn’t the only one he beat that week,” he said.
“It actually helped seeing him win the whole thing. One of the toughest parts in tennis is losing to someone who then crashes out in the next round. At least this time, I knew he earned it all the way.”
