NextGen member Alex de Minaur is one of the youngsters that many experts believe will make the leap to the top. The teenager himself believes that the next generation is already on the verge of replacing the established powers.
De Minaur is not a child of sadness. The 19-year-old from Sydney, nicknamed “Demon”, is despite his young years already a self-confident professional who openly says what he thinks. Perhaps the Australian number one has also taken his formidable season as an opportunity to predict the NextGen’s imminent big breakthrough.
“I think we’re really knocking on the door of these absolute top players,” de Minaur told the Tennismash portal, underpinning his forecast with a reference to the past months: “It’s crazy what the new generation of players has done lately.”
As a shining example, de Minaur cited Alexander Zverev (21), who won the ATP finals in London in November and successively defeated Roger Federer (semi finals) and Novak Djokovic (finals) on his way to his first big title.
Not to forget the jump of the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (20) to 15th place in the world ranking – or the Masters-Coup of the Russian Karen Khachanov (22) in Paris-Bercy. “These guys have all played incredible tennis,” de Minaur praised: “I think one day we’ll be able to do it consistently – and then we’ll have a really good starting position.” Good starting position for the changing of the guard at the top, he probably meant.
De Minaur played his way forward by 177 places in the past season and enters the new year as number 31. In Washington he reached his first final on the ATP Tour, which he lost to Alexander Zverev in two sets. In the final of the NextGen-ATP finals in Milan he lost to another hopeful player – Tsitsipas – at the end of a good season.
His Davis Cup team boss Lleyton Hewitt told the Australian daily “The Age”: “Alex has that special something. He’ll be among the top eight in the ATP rankings.”
De Minaur, like his compatriot wife Asleigh Barty, was recently awarded the Newcombe Medal at a ceremony held each year by the Australian Tennis Federation to the best player from the fifth continent. He was awarded the Newcomer Award in 2016 and 2017 respectively.