Alex de Minaur looked up to Lleyton Hewitt when he first arrived on the ATP Tour as a teenager.
De Minaur first arrived on the ATP Tour in 2017, winning his first match at just 17 years old.
At this time Hewitt, who is the last Australian man to win a Grand Slam singles title, was still an active player.
Hewitt has worked closely with De Minaur as Australia’s Davis Cup captain, and appeared to inspire his compatriot to improve areas of his game in 2018.
What Alex de Minaur said he wanted to gain from Lleyton Hewitt
De Minaur made just his second appearance at the Australian Open in 2018, when he was just 18 years old, losing in the first round to former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych.
Although he was unable to win a match at his home Grand Slam, it had still been a breakthrough few weeks for De Minaur after he reached his first ATP final in Sydney.
In his post-match press conference after his defeat to Berdych, De Minaur was asked about the role Hewitt had played in his life and career up to this point.
“He’s taught me to believe in myself, believe in my game, just show what I can do out on court,” De Minaur said about Hewitt. “He’s obviously helped me with different types of scenarios, tactics. Just being there in my corner. He’s been an incredible help. I couldn’t be more thankful.”
He added, “I grew up watching him play. Something that always stood out was just his competitive spirit, his willingness not to give up, to fight every ball until the last. That’s what I want to apply to my game. That’s what I’m trying to do every day.”
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The advice Lleyton Hewitt gave Alex de Minaur at the Australian Open in 2025
De Minaur has come a long way from that player over seven years ago, and he has now become a mainstay in the top 10 of the ATP rankings.
The now 26-year-old was able to reach a career-high ranking earlier this year, partly due to reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the first time.
After achieving this feat, De Minaur was again asked about Hewitt in his post-match press conference and revealed the advice his Davis Cup captain had been giving him along the way.
“He’s been my Davis Cup Captain for a while now, and I have learned a lot through him,” De Minaur said earlier this year. “I have picked his brain many, many times. You know, ultimately one of my biggest goals the last couple of years was to perform at the slams.
“More than anything, his advice has always been that, you know, the first week of a Slam is there to find a way and get through. Doesn’t matter how you do it, whether it’s pretty or ugly, you just got to find a way to get yourself to the second week, because in the second week of a slam, anything can happen.
“You start playing with confidence. You have played four matches already, feeling the conditions, the balls, the atmosphere, and then you’re not that far off from the big title. So that’s the kind of mindset I have had the last couple of slams, get through the first week and then we’ll see what happens.”
What does Alex de Minaur need to change to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner?
De Minaur is now looking to challenge for Grand Slam titles after losing all six of his major quarterfinals to date.
The world number seven will begin his campaign for major success on his return to the Australian Open, but first he will compete at the United Cup.
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