De Minaur: "I can't find any reason not to play well in Miami"
And yet, the Australian has never been able to go beyond the round of 16 here. Will this be his breakthrough year? These were his reflections before the debut.
After competing in the Miami Open six times, Alex De Minaur still doesn't know what lies beyond the round of 16. Is there a reason for this stat? Not even the Australian could explain it at the event's Media Day.
Chatting with Tennis TV colleagues, Alex De Minaur's speech exudes calmness upon his arrival at the Miami Open, a tournament where he has never been able to advance deep into the draw. The Australian is eager, coming off two poor tournaments and wanting to right the wrong here, though he acknowledges there are no easy opponents or relaxed rounds anymore. He is determined to heal the wounds left by two unexpected losses in Acapulco and Indian Wells, so expect to see him with an extra dose of motivation these days in Florida. We hear from the current World No. 6.
Welcome to Miami
"This tournament represents one of the most important stops on the calendar, regardless of my poor results here in the past. What I need to try to do is change that stat once and for all. I see no reason why I can't showcase a good level of tennis here. I come well-prepared, so I hope to gain confidence in the matches and display a good version of myself."
Recalling his match with Fonseca in 2025
"I remember it well, it was quite memorable. Since I started competing on the professional circuit, I would say that match provided one of the wildest atmospheres I've experienced in a stadium; there were so many fans passionately cheering for my opponent, so it was a pleasure to share the court that day with Joao. He possesses tremendous talent, is an exceptional guy, and the match was a lot of fun. Let's see if this edition brings as many Brazilians here to Miami."
Two poor tournaments after a good start to the season
"I believe the start of the year has been good, although now I come after a couple of early defeats, something that fortunately has not been the norm in my career. I need a bit of time, but I am content with how things are going; I continue to work on my game style. I hope things click in this tournament, to rediscover that momentum and have everything come together this week in Miami."
De Minaur explains why it is so difficult to play in Miami
"Tennis is precisely about adapting to the different conditions presented at each tournament. Here in Miami, we know it's very humid, extremely hot during daytime matches, and playing at night means the ball moves slower or there's wind. Obviously, this affects certain shots of the player, with the return being one of the most crucial. I've been struggling with this over the years, so I have to find that balance between being aggressive and solid in my returns; this mix will boost my confidence. I know the issue isn't my return but rather that I need to improve that process to find the right formula."
A unique against-the-tide style
"The evolution of tennis and equipment tends to lean in that direction, where currently players aim to hit the ball as hard as possible, regardless of the risks involved. I'm not a big fan of that, so I have to adapt, gradually increasing my speed, gaining confidence until I find the definitive shot without losing my aggressiveness. I know my style is a bit different from the rest; I try to vary my shots more, believing I'm good at it – much better than just hitting the ball hard all the time."
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De Minaur: “No encuentro ninguna razón para no jugar bien en Miami”