Alex de Minaur has announced that he has successfully overcome a brief spell of mental burnout and is eager to improve upon his previous performance at Roland Garros, where he reached the quarter-finals last year, marking a significant milestone as the first Australian male to achieve this in two decades.
Reflecting on his past struggles on clay, de Minaur expressed that his 2024 performance was a crucial turning point in his career. He stated, “In past years, I hadn’t won more than two matches here; it was a tournament that boosted my confidence and self-belief,” during an interview with Stan Sports’ Grand Slam Daily. He noted that he has now found enjoyment in playing on clay and feels empowered heading into the tournament.
De Minaur’s confidence is palpable; he believes he can pose a significant threat to any opponent regardless of the surface. He shares, “I feel like I can be a menace on any given day, just like it’s any other surface.”
Since the last French Open, de Minaur has consistently reached the quarter-finals in all three Grand Slam tournaments and celebrated his ninth ATP title at the Libema Open. However, he faces a challenging path at Roland Garros this year, including a potential quarter-final matchup against world number one Jannik Sinner, who recently returned from a doping suspension and made a strong showing at the Italian Open.
Acknowledging the competitive field, de Minaur opted to take a week off before the French Open to recharge mentally and physically. He explained, “I felt like I had played a lot of matches and was a bit burnt mentally,” emphasizing the importance of training effectively while also needing rest to ensure he arrives at Roland Garros fresh and energised.
De Minaur is set to kick off his campaign at Roland Garros on Sunday against Serbia’s Laslo Djere, whom he has bested in their previous three encounters. If all goes according to plan, he could face rising star Jakub Mensik in the third round and a potentially challenging battle with Jack Draper in the last 16.
As he prepares for the tournament, de Minaur’s focus on both physical and mental well-being seems poised to serve him well in his quest to progress further than last year.