De Minaur credits renewed mental fortitude for a successful year

Alex De Minaur has had a good year. The Australian No. 2 has compiled 45 singles match wins and won a sixth career ATP title, as well as improving his ranking by nearly 20 places.

Speaking during what will be his last singles event of the year at the Paris Masters, De Minaur has revealed that he attributes his uptick in form to being in a better headspace than last year.

Read also

Kyrgios not part of Australian Davis Cup team; De Minaur and Kokkinakis in

“I’m enjoying what I'm doing,” explained De Minaur. "I feel like last year I dealt with some complications after I had COVID. Just confidence wasn't really there, physically I wasn't feeling my greatest.

“But ever since that, I've put in a lot of work and I'm feeling very good. Whether it's mentally; I'm happy, I'm positive. And physically, I've put in a lot of work, so I'm feeling great on court as well. So I think all these things are clicking, and that's why I'm able to show some of my best tennis.”

The Australian's bounce-back season included a title win in Atlanta, four further ATP semi-finals, and a 4-0 record for his country in the Davis Cup - a tournament he usually rises to the occasion for. De Minaur believes that a change in mindset has played a huge part in this success.

"I think ultimately you always have to change something. You've got to decide yourself that you want to be in that positive mindset,” he said. "You put in work behind the scenes to try and get to that, but ultimately it's you who decides if you want to be in a good mood or in a bad mood."

After an inconsistent 2021 season that ended on a concerning run of 12 losses in 17 matches, following a bout with Covid-19, the 23 year-old Australian is firmly back in the top 20 with his sights set on even loftier heights for 2023. Having just taken out World No. 3 Daniil Medvedev in Paris, it would be appear the sky's the limit.

Read also

2020 champion Medvedev crashes out early at Paris Masters