‘I’m back’: Alex de Minaur delivers blunt warning to tour rivals

Australia’s top ranked tennis player Alex de Minaur has put his rivals on notice ahead of the first grand slam of the season.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 01: Alex de Minaur of Australia celebrates victory in the Group F match against Billy Harris of Great Britain during day six of the 2025 United Cup at Ken Rosewall Arena on January 01, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

A fired-up Alex de Minaur produced one of the most stunning points of the season to keep Australia’s slim hopes of advancing through to the United Cup finals alive after he obliterated Great Britain’s Billy Harris to level the tie in Sydney.

And after looking as unstoppable as the Terminator, he declared “I’m back” in a scary warning to his rivals.

Needing to be at his brilliant best after fiancée Katie Boulter cruised past Australia’s Olivia Gadecki in the opening match of the night, de Minaur was borderline perfect on his way to a crushing 6-2 6-1 win in 76 minutes.

De Minaur dominated the contest for his second win of the tournament, but it was his winning point to take a 2-0 lead in the second set that had everyone at Ken Rosewall Arena on their feet and would have left his rivals on tour wondering what they have to do to put the Aussie star away.

The Demon was unstoppable. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

Conditions on Wednesday were oppressive and didn’t ease during the match, but the heat, humidity and Harris couldn’t slow down de Minaur who sprinted to keep the point alive and then had to dash forward and to the other side of the court where he produced a stunning lob which couldn’t be returned.

The world number nine covered 45.7 metres in what was actually a short rally, with Jim Courier suggesting de Minaur should have a “shock absorber deal” for his ability to withstand powerful ground strokes.

“This was the old me,” he said after the match.

“I’ve got my legs back, everybody. I’m back.”

The Aussie is back to his best. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)

De Minaur was pumped up after winning the point to consolidate an early break in the second set after he was forced to save three break back points in the game, with the Aussie star never challenged after that as he picked up his second thumping win in the space of a few days.

The result leaves Australia with a chance of sneaking into the finals as the highest-ranked second-placed team as long as they don’t lose any more than four games in the mixed doubles.

“There was a lot going on,” he said.

“I shouldn’t be knowing all the different scenarios but they were in my head so that made it a little tough.”