Alex de Minaur is gearing up for a competitive 2026 season, setting his sights on overcoming tennis giants Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. After a brief off-season, the men’s world No. 7 returned to the court at the Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney for a practice session with fellow Australian Rinky Hijikata. De Minaur’s immediate focus is on the upcoming United Cup, starting January 2, but his long-term goal is to make significant strides at the 2026 Australian Open.
With a record of zero wins against Alcaraz and Sinner in 18 encounters, de Minaur recognizes the challenge ahead. “I think that’s something that we’re all trying to achieve,” he stated about closing the gap to these top players. “You ultimately have to bridge that gap… I’ve played some very close matches over the years with both of them, and you feel like you’re getting closer and closer.”
To enhance his performance, de Minaur is adopting a more aggressive strategy. He intends to take more risks and become a disruptor on the court. “For me, it’s finding different ways to hurt these players,” he explained. To support this shift, he has enlisted a new fitness trainer to help him increase his strength and agility. “Ultimately, trying to get bigger and stronger and just keep on improving,” he added.
The emotional rollercoaster of the previous ATP Finals in November is still fresh in de Minaur’s mind. After suffering a tough loss to Italian player Lorenzo Musetti, he admitted, “It was one of the toughest days of my career.” However, he bounced back two days later with a win against Taylor Fritz. Reflecting on that challenging period, he expressed relief at being able to articulate his feelings. “A lot of the time I feel like us players put on a brave face… sometimes certain matches just hit differently,” he noted.
De Minaur feels that honesty with himself was crucial during that time. “It was a way for me to just express my feelings, kind of get it out there, give myself a chance to regroup,” he said. He emphasized the importance of learning from experiences, saying, “I learnt about myself in those finals… I made sure for the next match I wasn’t going to feel the same way.”
As the 2026 season approaches, de Minaur’s determination is evident. The Sydney crowd can expect to see an evolved player when he competes in the United Cup and heads into the Australian Open. His journey toward becoming a formidable opponent for Alcaraz and Sinner continues, with the hope that this season could mark a significant turning point in his career.
Fans can watch the United Cup starting January 2 on Nine, 9Now, and Stan Sports, as de Minaur aims to make a mark in the tournament and beyond.
