Alex de Minaur has explaining to do after his decision leaves questions to be answered

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While most players on the ATP Tour are enjoying their time off or getting ready for 2026, Alex de Minaur still has some tennis to play.

De Minaur has enjoyed a fine season so far, with the Australian now in double figures for ATP Tour titles after his solo success.

He emerged victorious at Washington, with De Minaur also reaching the final in Rotterdam, where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.

The 26-year-old is seventh in the year-end ATP rankings, while he managed to reach two Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2025.

Alex de Minaur must explain himself ahead of UTS Grand Final appearance

Earlier this month, De Minaur confirmed the Grand Slams are talking to players regarding prize money, with the superstars of the game demanding the better sharing of revenues from such events.

He hasn’t been afraid to speak out against the powers that be, which was typified when De Minaur criticized the ATP calendar after his shock French Open exit.

Asked how the schedule could be fixed after his second round loss, he said: “The solution is simple, you shorten the schedule.

“What’s not normal is that for the past three or four years, I’ve had two days off after Davis Cup and I’ve gone straight into pre-season and the new season.”

But De Minaur needs to explain himself in light of such comments, having committed to the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS) Grand Final.

The year-round league, founded by tennis coach Patrick Mouratoglou, concludes in London early next month, with the Australian taking part despite only just reaching the semifinals of the ATP Finals.

Ironically, De Minaur withdrew from UTS Hong Kong right before it started, citing injury as his reasoning behind the decision.

It’s clear why Alex de Minaur is playing another event despite his complaints

De Minaur certainly isn’t the only player to go against his own word, with Alcaraz called out for hypocrisy after committing to exhibitions despite criticism of the ATP calendar.

And while many players do not openly discuss their reasons behind playing such events, there is one clear common denominator.

Huge purses are often available at the tournaments, with De Minaur earning $796,800 for winning the 2024 UTS Grand Final.

Given that figure and indeed the fact he lifted the trophy last time out, playing at this year’s event was perhaps a no-brainer for the Australian, even with his injury issues and concerns about the calendar.

It was very likely the same situation at the recent Six Kings Slam, where Jannik Sinner earned $6million for coming out on top in Riyadh, having also won the top prize the year before.