Adolfo Gutierrez on Alex de Minaur’s most improved asset: his mind | ATP Tour

Coaches Corner

Coach Gutierrez on De Minaur’s most improved asset: his mind

Australian takes on countryman Thompson for US Open QF spot

September 02, 2024

Alex de Minaur is enjoying another fruitful season. The Australian, No. 10 in the PIF ATP Rankings, peaked at No. 6 a few months ago and has claimed two titles in 2024 (Acapulco and ’s-Hertogenbosch).

De Minaur also reached the last eight at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon. On Monday, De Minaur will take on his countryman Jordan Thompson at the US Open for a place in yet another major quarter-final. What is clear is that, despite his 25 years, the Australian is still getting better. His recent improvements have earned him a place among the best players in the world.

“Honestly, there’s no secret to progress other than following our most basic ideas and principles,” Adolfo Gutierrez, De Minaur’s coach, told ATPTour.com in New York. “My father taught me that it is daily hard work, never giving up, and believing in what we’re doing.

“The goals we have today are still to improve everything: to be a better player, a better person and not to settle for anything. As well as trusting oneself in the big moments, and training to be ready, above all for the Grand Slams, which were on our to-do list.”

Of course, the 2024 version of De Minaur was not built in a couple of days. Gutierrez, who has been with the Australian since his junior days, knows exactly what the process was to improve a player who already had formidable foundations. Now, through pure hard work, De Minaur has found his place among the elite.

“Since we started together, we’ve tried to maintain a clear focus, which has been to base ourselves on improving physically, maintaining his speed and above all his strength,” explained Gutierrez. “In recent years the work has been more about playing much more aggressively in an attempt to dominate as much as possible.”

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And what of De Minaur’s mental development?

“I strongly believe that his biggest improvement has been mental,” acknowledged Gutierrez. “Without confidence, without believing in oneself, in what we want to achieve, it would’ve been impossible. We’ve been working on many things mentally and we’re seeing the results of that. It motivates us to believe more in it. As a consequence, it helps me further develop and improve his tennis.”

De Minaur nonetheless has some unfinished business in 2024: he had to withdraw from Wimbledon before taking to court for his last-eight clash against Novak Djokovic as the result of a hip cartilage injury. If he defeats Thompson on Monday in New York, he will get another bite at a Grand Slam quarter-final.

“We weren’t able to play the quarters at Wimbledon because of the injury, and we were playing very well,” lamented Gutierrez. “After that, the recovery wasn’t easy, but luckily we’re back and feeling better every day.

“When you reach the quarters of a Grand Slam you’re always playing with the best players at that time, and it gets very tough. You have to stay in the moment and hope that the nerves and tension affect your opponent more, and that things go well in terms of that little bit of luck you always need.”

In that context, De Minaur has some ambitious goals in mind, for this season and, of course, for the rest of his career.

“Honestly, we never set limits for ourselves and it’s not because we’re arrogant or pretentious,” said Gutierrez, whose charge is currently eighth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. “I think that would be a mistake on our part. Whatever has to happen will happen, but we’ll work to be as high as possible and to stay there, which is the most difficult part.

“Short term, the goal is to be in Turin [at the Nitto ATP Finals]. It would be a dream after the injury and missing some important tournaments. We’ll keep trying, or at least to be able to finish our first year among the best, which was the goal at the start of the year.”

Editor’s note: This story was translated from ATPTour.com/es