BREAKING: Alex de Minaur has just claimed the prestigious Newcombe Medal for the fourth time, solidifying his status as Australia’s premier tennis player. This marks his third consecutive year winning the award, putting him in close pursuit of Ash Barty’s all-time record.
The announcement was made at the annual Tennis Australia awards night held on November 13, 2023, where de Minaur was celebrated for his impressive performance this year, including reaching the quarter-finals at the US Open and making it to the final four at the ATP Finals.
Currently ranked No. 7 in the world, de Minaur’s achievements in 2023 have positioned him as a strong contender in men’s tennis, as he eyes a potential leap into the top five. His most notable match came against Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime at the US Open, where he fell in a challenging four-set quarter-final.
As he prepares for the upcoming Australian Open, de Minaur will be joined by fellow Australian talents, including world No. 32 Maya Joint and Daria Kataskina, both ranked within the WTA top 40. They will face tough competition, particularly from world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who is aiming for his third consecutive title.
De Minaur’s consistent performance has made him the sole recipient of the Newcombe Medal for the past three years, especially following Barty’s retirement from tennis in 2020. Barty, a five-time champion, left the sport at the peak of her career, paving the way for de Minaur to shine.
This year’s nominees included emerging talents such as Adam Walton, Tristan Schoolkate, and Kimberly Birrell, who recently broke into the world’s top 100 rankings. De Minaur first won the Newcombe Medal in 2016, sharing the honor with Barty as she began her rise in the WTA.
In addition to his Newcombe Medal win, de Minaur showcased remarkable resilience by advancing to the semi-finals of the ATP Finals in Turin last month. He achieved this by defeating top-10 rival Taylor Fritz, marking his first victory at the prestigious season-ending championship. Despite a straight-set loss to Sinner, de Minaur expressed satisfaction with his overall performance.
“I’ve dealt with a fair bit of heartbreak recently. It was good to finally get a win,” de Minaur shared. “I just wanted to play my way. It felt good to play on my terms.”
In other highlights from the awards night, Cruz Hewitt, son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt, was named the junior athlete of the year (male). At just 17 years old, Cruz aims to follow in his father’s footsteps as he continues to progress in the sport.
As de Minaur looks ahead to the Australian Open, all eyes will be on him and his fellow competitors in the coming weeks. The tennis world eagerly anticipates whether de Minaur can continue his impressive streak and possibly challenge Barty’s Newcombe Medal legacy.
Stay tuned for more updates as the Australian Open approaches, and follow our coverage of all the latest developments in tennis.
