At the tender age of 12, Aussie tennis star Alex de Minaur was faced with a life-changing decision.
While his friends at school and in tennis circles were often playing computer games in their spare time, de Minaur had to make a brutal call which also affected his family – whether to represent Australia or Spain.
Thankfully for Australian tennis fans, ‘Demon’ chose his country of birth and got to work.
He chose a life many are simply not cut out for – it involved first training on court each morning, then a gym session, followed by distance education, a second stint on court and finally, more time in the gym.
It was brutal. And unrelenting for the boy who was also showing considerable promise as a golfer and footballer, such is his athletic ability.
At the tender age of 12, Alex de Minaur was faced with a life-changing decision – thankfully for tennis fans in Australia, he chose his country of birth
The rise of Alex De Minaur has been impressive – he is now ranked in the men’s ATP top 10, the first Aussie to achieve the feat since Lleyton Hewitt in the early 2000’s
‘Demon’ has also found love in fellow professional, England’s Katie Boulter (pictured left)
But it made de Minaur the man he is today, Australia’s first male player in two decades – since Lleyton Hewitt – to break into world’s top 10.
He also was picked for Davis Cup aged just 18, and took on Germany’s Alexander Zverev, then ranked four in the world.
De Minaur lost in five sets, and admits the defeat still haunts him.
And while he doesn’t have the serve of Nick Kyrgios as a standout weapon, de Minaur’s baseline game and desire to improve has won him legions of fans globally.
Even more so on Australian shores.
The 24-year-old also has the respect of the top players on tour – many of whom he has beaten in recent years.
It is an impressive list, including Rafael Nadal, Andrey Rublev, Taylor Fritz, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev.
At the recent United Cup in Perth was de Minaur’s biggest career scalp – world number one Novak Djokovic, in straight sets.
Novak Djokovic was impressed by Alex de Minaur at the United Cup, declaring ‘he was just very solid, as he always is’
Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz also was also beaten by Alex de Minaur recently in an exhibition match ahead of the Australian Open
Aussie tennis great Lleyton Hewitt has long acted as a mentor for Alex de Minaur
De Minaur will carry the hopes of the nation at the Australian Open the next fortnight, but relishes the pressure.
It isn’t a burden, it is a privilege for the man who politely rejected multiple approaches from the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation as he began to map out his sporting career.
The proud Aussie also hasn’t forgotten the support in terms of funding he received from Tennis Australia.
Off court, he has found love with fellow tennis professional Katie Boulter, and the couple plan to move in together this year.
In London, just near the courts at Wimbledon naturally.
‘I haven’t been given an amazing body, or amazing talent, or the ability to achieve things without working for them,’ de Minaur told The Age.
‘My family have made plenty of sacrifices for me to be where I am, and I think of myself as the provider.
‘In tennis, I like the fact you need to problem solve to beat your opponent, you can’t rely on anyone else. ‘It’s all about being tough in the moment, finding ways and digging deep. There’s no place to hide.’
De Minaur is yet to progress beyond the fourth round of his home slam – but you can guarantee his team will be drumming home the message that records are meant to be broken.
And he is living proof why you should never give up – until recently, De Minaur’s record against the top five players on the ATP circuit was 0-18.
But he kept grinding, and was eventually rewarded.
De Minaur faces big serving Canadian Milos Raonic on January 15 for a spot in the second round at Melbourne Park.