Aussie legend believes Alex De Minaur can go further on Grand Slams: "The obvious next step is semis, final or win"

Alex De Minaur had a remarkable season in 2024, and Australian legend Todd Woodbridge discussed the strengths that make the World No. 8 a player capable of going even further in Grand Slams after reaching three quarter-finals last year.

The 25-year-old had hovered around the Top 30 and Top 20 rankings since 2019 but did not break into the Top 10 until 2024, a year in which he posted an impressive 47-21 (69%) record, won two ATP 500 titles, and reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open.

“The mentality is one of his assets,” commented former doubles World No. 1 Woodbridge. “His competitive mentality to go, ‘You’re going to have to beat me, I’m not going to give you today’s match.’ That’s become an aura for him.”

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"De Minaur brings back Australia’s hard work culture"

De Minaur fell to Alexander Zverev at the French Open and Jack Draper at the US Open, both in straight sets. At Wimbledon, an injury forced him to withdraw before taking the court against Novak Djokovic. He concluded the season with 14 wins and three losses in major tournaments — his best performance so far — and reached three quarter-finals, a feat he had only previously achieved at the 2020 US Open.

“He wins a lot of matches now because many guys aren’t able to hold up mentally. They’ll challenge him for 15, 20, or 45 minutes, and he absorbs it,” Woodbridge mentioned. “The opponent collapses, and then he’s a great momentum player. As soon as he gains that momentum, he can ride it home. He doesn’t have massive attributes like a huge serve or powerful forehand, but when combined, they form a sensational package.”

Woodbridge, who won 16 Grand Slam doubles titles, also enjoyed success in singles, reaching the Top 20 back in 1997. The Aussie star commented that De Minaur reminds him a bit of former World No. 2 Michael Chang. “He’d chase every ball down, he was in your face, a little terrier dog coming at you, and if you weren’t mentally prepared for that, it made for a tough day at the office. That’s what he’s built — he’s built that reputation.”

“I don't know if there are many other players on tour with that type of reputation. Some players are feared for their game styles, but not for their competitive spirit, and that’s what he has.”

De Minaur started the season in great form, comfortably defeating Tomas Martin Etcheverry (No. 39) 6-4, 6-1, and then British player Billy Harris (No. 125) 6-2, 6-1. The Australian narrowly surpassed Andrey Rublev in the ATP rankings to secure the No. 8 seed at the year's first Grand Slam. “I don’t think anyone works harder than him. There are obviously guys who work very hard and whose efforts aren’t always visible. But he works as hard as anyone I’ve seen on the tour.”

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“From an Australian tennis perspective, he’s driving a culture — a culture that has traditionally been part of our country, and he’s bringing it back,” Woodbridge added. “It’s about hard work, discipline, good decisions, surrounding yourself with the right people, and getting results. When you put all those elements together, you create the career path he’s built for himself.”

“His movement is directly tied to his confidence in facing Top 10 players. His goal is to reach the quarter-finals and beyond at majors,” Woodbridge said. “What he accomplished last year with three quarter-finals — no Aussie has done that in many years. The next obvious step is semis, a final, or a win. To achieve that, he must be at his physical best.”

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Despite 2024 being the best season of his career, De Minaur faced physical setbacks. A hip injury forced him to withdraw from Wimbledon, keeping him out of competition for almost two months and skipping several tournaments during the American swing before the US Open.

“I think it was a shock to his system — and mentally to his confidence — what happened at Wimbledon. He was playing the best tennis of his life, with a real chance to beat Novak and reach the semi-finals. That opportunity was taken from him by his physical condition, which has been his greatest strength. At that age, you don’t consider yourself vulnerable,” Woodbridge said.

“It was the first time in his career that he had to think differently about his body. He’s had minor strains before, but this was serious,” Woodbridge added. “Seeing him regain full confidence in his movement at this tournament and heading to Melbourne is massive for him, not just for the start of the Open but for the entire season.”

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