Alex de Minaur’s 2026 season got off to a strong start during the Australian swing.
The world number six entered two tournaments Down Under, appearing at the United Cup before featuring at the Australian Open.
De Minaur reached the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park, where he ultimately lost to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz, who completed the career Grand Slam with his triumph.
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Following his first major run of the year, the Australian star will now get his Rotterdam Open campaign underway.
Ahead of the ATP 500 event, De Minaur revealed the tweaks he made in the offseason.
Alex de Minaur reveals the changes he made in the offseason
When asked how he worked on his game before the 2026 season started in an interview with Tennis TV, he replied: “I mean, just building, right?
“I think I’m coming off some really good momentum, some really good years on tour, breaking into the top 10. The following year kind of cementing my place there, and now it’s just slowly keep on building and keep pushing for more, right?
“It is no secret that I do want more so it’s about finding ways to do that and to go deep in the biggest tournaments and those are the Grand Slams now.
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“So I’m just trying to get a little bit stronger, trying to add a little bit more to my game, a little bit more weight, a little bit more versatility, aggressiveness, and kind of tie all these things together.
“It is not massive changes, a couple of tweaks on my serve, but it is just building on what I’ve been doing right?
“I think I’m on the right trajectory and hopefully I can keep on breaking barriers and reaching new milestones this year.”
Alex de Minaur’s first-round opponent at the Rotterdam Open
After being dealt a tough path to the title at the Australian Open, De Minaur’s luck of the draw has not improved at the Rotterdam Open.
His first-round opponent comes in the form of Arthur Fils, who made his return to action in Montpellier last week after being sidelined with a back injury since August.
The former world number 14 beat De Minaur in their first meeting on the tour, which came on the clay courts of Barcelona.
De Minaur emerged victorious in their most recent battle at Wimbledon in 2024, however, to tie the head-to-head at one apiece.
Should De Minaur beat Fils, he will play either Stan Wawrinka or Aleksandar Vukic in the next round.
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