Alex de Minaur is preparing for the start of the new season in Sydney, leading his country at the United Cup.
World no. 7 discussed one of the most daunting challenges of men's tennis – finding a way past Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
😄 Fun point between Alex de Minaur and Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Finals.#ATP | #NittoATPFinals @atptour | @TennisTV
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The Aussie has yet to register a win against the dominant duo of men's tennis, carrying an 0-18 combined record. It's another example of how firmly the pair have controlled the biggest stages of the sport.
Carlos and Jannik have won the previous eight Major titles. On the other hand, Alex has yet to pass the quarter-final stage of the most notable tennis scene, with his first chance to change that awaiting at the home Australian Open.
With five defeats against Alcaraz and 13 versus Sinner, de Minaur does not want to ignore that issue and focus on beating other rivals. Instead, that terrible record has pushed world no. 7 into a period of honest reassessment.
Rather than accepting the gap, the Sydney native has spent the off-season searching for solutions. Physically, he arrives stronger and heavier than in previous years.
Carlos Alcaraz & Alex de MInaur, ATP Finals 2025© Stream screenshot
He believes that adding power and durability to his arsenal are essential elements to survive and threaten the relentless baseline pressure applied by the sport's two standard-bearers.
The focus has been on variation, risk-taking and disrupting rhythm rather than relying solely on speed and consistency. As his H2H against them confirms, it has not been enough so far.
De Minaur knows that the margins are painfully small. In fact, he missed a massive chance to beat Alcaraz in their first clash in Barcelona in 2022, having wasted match points in a titanic battle.
Tight duels against the dominant figures reinforce the belief that the breakthrough is not impossible. However, closing the gap demands new weapons and the courage to deploy them against players who rarely offer openings.
Alex qualified for last month's ATP Finals in Turin and faced both Carlos and Jannik. He fought well in the opener against the Spaniard, losing it in the tie break after a massive battle.
Alex de Minaur, ATP Finals 2025© Stream screenshot
World no. 1 took charge in the second set and brought the victory home. The Aussie still reached the semi-final and faced Jannik Sinner for the 13th time. The Italian earned a 7-5, 6-2 victory after nearly two hours.
Like against Alcaraz, de Minaur stayed competitive in the opening set. World no. 2 stole it with a late break and dominated set number two to remain perfect against fellow top-10 rival.
"I have played some very close matches with Carlos and Jannik over the years, and you feel like you are getting closer and closer. You have got to work on your game and find new weapons.
It's finding different ways to hurt these players and being ready to take more risks and be a bit more of a disruptor. There are a couple of things here and there that we have been working on in my team throughout this off-season to take the next step.
Obviously, that's the next goal. I'm ultimately trying to get bigger and stronger and just keep on improving. Over the years, I have gained a little bit of weight, which has definitely helped me.
There's no substitute for hard work, so that's what we will be doing," Alex de Minaur said.
