Alex de Minaur booked in to play the Adelaide International in January
Australia’s top-ranked men’s tennis player has joined world No.1 woman Ash Barty in committing to the new $2 million Adelaide International at Memorial Drive — a venue which holds special memories and the inspiration for a tattoo.
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Hot on the heels of world number one Ash Barty committing to the new $2 million Adelaide International, Australia’s top ranked men’s tennis player will also make his debut at the top-flight Memorial Drive tournament in January.
Twenty-year-old Alex de Minaur, who will spearhead Australia’s attempt to clinch the Davis Cup at the newly revamped finals in Madrid next month, said an inaugural Davis Cup win against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Adelaide earlier year, helped make his appearance here a no-brainer.
“I played Davis Cup in Adelaide and enjoyed it. It’s a nice place to come back to. I have great memories there for my Davis Cup debut win,” de Minaur, who is known widely as Demon, said.
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So thrilled was de Minaur — who has won three ATP titles this year and is ranked world number 28 — with his display against Bosnia that he cemented his love affair with his country by tattooing the numerals 109 (he is the 109th man to represent Australia in the Davis Cup) onto his chest.
“People get excited that I got the tattoo. I don’t think many people expected me to get it, it has been good, it’s something special for me.”
His commitment to making the most of the Australian summer comes amid a wholesale rejig of the January tennis calendar.
De Minaur will play the inaugural ATP Cup in Brisbane before competing in South Australia the week immediately before the Australian Open.
The Sydney-born Aussie will almost certainly not be the highest ranked player on view in Adelaide, however, with Canadian teenage sensation Felix Auger-Aliasimme (the only player younger than de Minaur in the men’s top 100) also signing on for the 32-player draw from January 11 to 18.
There is a practical consideration also in playing Adelaide which has replaced the established Sydney International which de Minaur won this January. Points need to be picked up to protect his world ranking, he said.
“If I didn’t play Adelaide that week I would have no matches so I am coming to give my all and see what I can do. It’s a big Australian summer. After that I will have some time off to chill and refresh.”
This time off will incorporate his 21st birthday with his family on February 17 at his training base in Alicante although his elevated professional status has recently allowed the man with Uruguayan and Spanish heritage to add the Bahamas as a place of residence too.
“It’s an unbelievable place, not at all bad for time off.”
Closer to home, the current co-holder with Ash Barty of the Newcombe Medal — awarded annually to Australia’s most outstanding elite tennis player and ambassador — expects Barty to sweep the board at December’s award ceremony.
“Ash is number one, won a slam, she has had a pretty decent year. She has always been gracious and helped me out with a lot.”
Originally published as Alex de Minaur booked in to play the Adelaide International in January