Alex De Minaur was not a name the vast majority of the tennis world expected to see in the final of the Toronto Masters. But he more than deserved his spot in the last two. The Australian #1 dropped just one set in his five wins to make the final. No one can credibly argue that De Minaur benefited from an easy draw either. The first round was against #11 seed Cameron Norrie, Taylor Fritz was his round of 16 opponent, he overcame US Open winner Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinal, and then the on-form Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the semifinal. The final did not end as the Australian hoped as Jannik Sinner won the title in straight sets, but that is still a sequence of results to be immensely proud of.
De Minaur has slipped somewhat under the radar for a few years. His compatriot Nick Kyrgios has long taken the headlines for various reasons. This article provides three reasons why the 24-year-old has been somewhat underappreciated, and why that should now change.
Why De Minaur has Been Underappreciated
1. Perceptions About his Playing Style
The Toronto finalist has earned a reputation as one of the biggest grinders on the ATP Tour. Much of this is true, and deserves to be taken as a compliment. De Minaur is undoubtedly one of the best movers in tennis, especially on hard courts, where he has had the majority of his success. He matches his athleticism with a never say die attitude that sees him fight to the last point in every match, regardless of what the score is.
But that reputation is one of the reasons why de Minaur has not received the attention he deserves. That is unfair, as the 13-time ATP finalist is more than just a battler. It is reasonable to say he does not have the firepower and sometimes outrageous flair that Kyrgios has. De Minaur will never be near the top of the season list for most aces, or provide a selection of trick shots.
However, this year’s Mexican Open champion has more to his game than he is given credit for. Firstly his serve has improved immensely in the last 12 months. Although he is not the most powerful man on the tour, he is still capable of letting rip off his forehand in particular, evidenced by the 28 winners he hit in his quarterfinal against Medvedev. Some of the winners de Minaur hits from seemingly defensive positions by re-directing his opponent’s pace are often thrilling to watch.
De Minaur’s tennis is attractive to watch. There is a place for Kyrgios brand of largely big serving and short points, with some incredible shot making mixed in. But the younger Australian’s consistently longer rallies, with great winners blended in is also great viewing.
2. De Minaur’s Relatively Quiet Personality
De Minaur’s demeanor is an even bigger contrast to Kyrgios than his playing style. 28-year-old Kyrgios often engages in antics on the court that have gained him notoriety, alongside the tennis he plays. This includes rows with umpires, members of the crowd, and sometimes fellow players. In addition Kyrgios is consistently outspoken off the court, often getting in sometimes perplexing arguments with users on social media.
That is not how de Minaur conducts himself. All players including the Toronto finalist occasionally get frustrated. But largely he stays calm and focused on the court through the highs and lows, and also does not engage in activity off the court to raise any eyebrows. De Minaur lets the quality of his tennis do the talking.
I have strongly felt for a long time that too many in the tennis world are more attracted to divisive antics on and off the courts, instead of the tennis actually being played. The immediacy of controversial acts are easier to absorb than the intricacies of a match. That can lead to quieter personalities being naturally disrespected. Jimmy Arias bizarre comments about Iga Swiatek that were so wrong is another example of that. This mindset changing would be positive for tennis, and for all sports. There is room in tennis for the personalities of Kyrgios and De Minaur. And de Minaur should receive the same attention from the excellent tennis that he plays.
3. De Minaur’s Previous Lack of Success at the Biggest Tournaments
The previous two sections highlighted areas where I simply disagree with how de Minaur is often perceived. But the seven-time ATP champion’s previous lack of achievements above ATP 500 level was a more reasonable reason for his lack of appreciation, even if I still believe he deserved more recognition before his Toronto run. The previous 12 finals he reached were all at ATP 250 or 500 level. He won seven of these finals. Six of those were 250 titles, while his win at the Mexican Open was his first at an ATP 500 tournament.
De Minaur had not reached a final at a Masters 1000 event before his run in Toronto. The Australian currently has one sole quarterfinal to his name in Grand Slams. What he has achieved in Canada should earn him a new level of respect in the tennis world. Kyrgios also has just one Masters runner-up. Both he and de Minaur are champions at ATP 500 level. The more divisive Australian has reached a Grand Slam final at Wimbledon, but his compatriot has reached two more ATP finals in total. Also, de Minaur has now reached a career high ranking of #12 in the world. That is a higher ranking than Kyrgios has ever achieved. And he has done it despite being four years Kyrgios junior.
Achieving what e Minaur has in his shorter career thus far makes him at least the equal of his compatriot Kyrgios. The quality of tennis a player produces should be the primary way to get appreciation as opposed to on and off court antics, as I argued previously. That means the 24-year-old now deserves more widespread acknowledgment.
Conclusion
Alex de Minaur is an excellent player. The final in Toronto did not finish as he hoped, but his run was hugely impressive. It is time the tennis world stops only thinking of Nick Kyrgios when it comes to Australian tennis. De Minaur is the deserved #1 Australian man in the world. And after Kyrgios and three others withdrew from the US Open, he will fly the flag for Australian tennis once more at the final Grand Slam of the year.
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
