Uncommon Perspective: Alex de Minaur Remains Unfazed by Ranking Drop as He Takes Essential Break Ahead of Wimbledon

As Alex de Minaur gears up for his round of 32 encounter against Jiri Lehecka at Queen’s on Tuesday night (AEST), he finds himself in a somewhat rare position—feeling rejuvenated.

Following his swift exit from the Roland-Garros in late May, the Australian openly expressed his frustration with tour scheduling, which has seen him play almost continuously over the past few years.

The world No. 12 admitted to feeling both mentally and physically drained, yet he struggled with the idea of taking a break from the tour, knowing it would impact his ranking.

However, de Minaur ultimately set aside these worries and chose not to defend his grass-court title in Rosmalen, despite the potential repercussions it could have on his Wimbledon seeding.

Recently, there’s been increased scrutiny on the schedule of the tour, especially after the extension of nearly all Masters tournaments, which has only added to an already demanding calendar.

Talking to AAP, de Minaur reflected on his need for a break, explaining that the consequences of stepping away from the sport were far less significant than the pressing need for some time off.

“I’m feeling significantly better now. After Roland Garros, I took a full week off to completely disconnect from the sport,” he explained.

“That’s quite unusual for me. I honestly can’t remember the last time I did that.”

“It felt a bit strange because I tried to assist Katie (Boulter, his fiancée) by practicing with her, but I just didn’t find joy in it and thought, ‘I can’t recall the last time I didn’t enjoy hitting on grass’.”

“That was a bit of a false start, so I decided to take another three days off. Since then, I’ve been gradually improving and feeling more energised, and now I’m keen to kick off my campaign.”

De Minaur disclosed that his time away from tennis included engaging in activities deemed “normal” for a human being.

“I focused on relaxing activities, as tennis can be quite demanding and filled with pressure. I enjoyed going out for coffees, dining, exploring parks and nature, and playing golf,” he shared.

“Anything I would consider a part of a typical lifestyle rather than fixating on tennis around the clock.”

The right-hander acknowledged that his loss to Alexander Bublik in Paris, despite leading two sets to love, was hard to swallow. Still, he believes that defeat ultimately provided him with valuable insight into his state of mind.

“In a sense, that loss prompted me to gain a little perspective on why certain things were occurring. I realised just how mentally depleted I was,” he stated.

“Consequently, I’ve spent the last two weeks letting go of the game a bit, ensuring I return to competition with the vibrant energy I’m known for.”

Although missing out on ranking points has seen de Minaur drop out of the top 10, he remains optimistic that the time off will ultimately be beneficial.

“It certainly could have serious ramifications for my Wimbledon seeding,” he mentioned regarding his break.

“However, I’ve chosen to focus on my health instead of fixating on rankings and the constant pressure of moving up and down each week. I want to enjoy playing tennis again without those external stresses weighing on me.”

“I’m aiming to shift my mindset to that of a top player and trust myself to play fewer tournaments, while still achieving success in the major competitions.”

“Mentally, I feel like I’m in a good place, and even if this week doesn’t yield results, I’m confident it will prove beneficial in the long term.”