“That’s a really big thing, at least for me”: Alex de Minaur reveals secret behind Team World’s stunning Laver Cup turnaround
– Alex de Minaur, the unflappable Australian who spearheaded Team World’s charge from a 3-1 deficit to a commanding 9-3 lead on Day 2 of the 2025 Laver Cup, has let slip the emotional spark that ignited their stunning turnaround. In a heartfelt post-match reflection at San Francisco’s Chase Center, the World No. 8 revealed that playing in front of his home-country compatriots—despite being oceans away from Australia—ignited a fire within the squad. “That’s a really big thing, at least for me,” de Minaur said, crediting the passionate support from the Bay Area’s Aussie diaspora for flipping the script on defending champions Team Europe. As Sunday’s tripled-point finale looms, de Minaur’s revelation underscores the Laver Cup’s magic: Where national pride transcends borders, turning an exhibition into an all-out war.
#The Turnaround: From Day 1 Drubbing to Day 2 Domination
Day 1 belonged to Team Europe, who stormed to a 3-1 lead (six points total) behind Casper Ruud’s baseline clinic over Ben Shelton (7-6, 6-4), Carlos Alcaraz’s clutch 7-5 second-set hold against Jack Draper (6-3, 7-5), and Jakub Mensik’s doubles edge over Alex Michelsen (6-3, 6-4). Team World’s lone bright spot was Taylor Fritz and Michelsen’s 7-6, 6-4 doubles upset over Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, but captain Andre Agassi’s crew looked vulnerable heading into Saturday.
Enter de Minaur, the 26-year-old Sydney native and ATP’s hard-court win leader (29 in 2025). In the Day 2 opener—worth double points—he dismantled No. 3 Zverev 6-1, 6-4, his third career win over the German (all in team events). A 5-0 blitz in the first set showcased de Minaur’s flat returns and slice-heavy tactics, evoking Roger Federer (who watched from the stands). Zverev mounted a fightback to 4-4 in the second, but de Minaur’s forehand laser broke for the match, evening the score at 3-3.
The momentum snowballed: Francisco Cerúndolo stunned Holger Rune 6-4, 6-3 in a baseline slugfest, Fritz outlasted Alcaraz 7-6, 6-4 in a rematch of their 2024 US Open thriller, and de Minaur teamed with Michelsen for a gritty 6-3, 6-4 doubles win over Rune and Ruud—despite de Minaur’s mid-match ear injury from blocking Rune’s shot with his racket frame. The haul: Six points for World, surging them to 9-3 (13 total points). Europe, now needing a miracle with 18 points tripled on Sunday, faces an uphill battle.
The Secret Sauce: Aussie Pride in the Heart of San Francisco
De Minaur’s post-doubles interview with Laver Cup host Jim Courier peeled back the layers on what flipped the switch. Amid the Chase Center’s roar—fueled by a vocal contingent of Australian expats waving flags and chanting “Aussie! Aussie! Aussie!”—he pinpointed the crowd’s energy as the X-factor. “That’s a really big thing, at least for me,” de Minaur beamed, his voice cracking with emotion. “You don’t expect it here, but the support from our Aussies in the stands… it feels like home. They traveled far, but they’re louder than anyone. That lifts you—makes you play for something bigger.”
The revelation resonated, especially given de Minaur’s personal ties: His family hails from Sydney, and he’s long credited the global Aussie network for sustaining him on tour. Teammate Michelsen, the 20-year-old American wildcard, echoed the sentiment: “Alex was on fire because of that crowd. It’s contagious.” Agassi, the Hall of Famer captain, added a nod to the underdog spirit: “We were down, but the energy shifted. Alex brought the fight—we all followed.”
De Minaur didn’t stop at gratitude; he took a playful swipe at the doubters. “All those analytics people, they’re not on the court playing like we are,” he quipped, referencing pre-Day 2 predictions that pegged Europe as locks for a sixth straight title. “We thrive on proving ’em wrong.”
Day 3 Stakes: Can World Seal the Deal?
With 18 points up for grabs Sunday (tripled format), Team World needs just four more to clinch their second Laver Cup (after 2022). The lineup teases fireworks: Novak Djokovic vs. Tommy Paul in singles, Zverev vs. Michelsen, and a potential Alcaraz-de Minaur decider. De Minaur, bandaged ear and all, draws doubles with Fritz against Mensik and Gael Monfils—another chance to channel that “big thing.”
Europe’s Yannick Noah, in his debut captaincy, rallied his troops: “We’re not done. Passion like theirs? We’ll match it.” But with de Minaur’s fire lit by far-flung fans, the Aussie’s secret might just crown Team World kings of the Chase Center.
As confetti awaits, de Minaur’s words remind us: In team tennis, the loudest cheers aren’t always from home soil—they’re from the heart.
