Alex de Minaur wrapped up the season inside the top-7, wrapping up his second consecutive year-end top-20 campaign. Alex's current position is a proof of his steady rise into the sport's elite.
Yet despite the breakthrough, the Aussiecontinues to approach his future with a mix of ambition and realism, especially when the conversation turns to the biggest prizes in tennis.
For de Minaur, winning a Major remains the ultimate dream. However, the Sydney native understands that such titles sit in a space where talent alone is not enough.
With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner entrenched at the top, and with the gap widening with every season, Alex understands that some outcomes lie beyond even his best planning or preparation.
Instead, he has chosen to focus on the elements he can control. De Minaur is eager to focus on daily improvements, the attitude he brings to work and the effort he invests in every match.
At 26, the Sydney native owns ten ATP titles. His only notable final came in Canada two years ago, when he lost to Jannik Sinner. De Minaur has become increasingly open about the need to acknowledge the "small victories" along the way.
Alex loves the strides he makes in pressure moments, the consistency that keeps him inside the top tier. There's also a resilience shown during a demanding calendar.
De Minaur wants to remain driven, but also kinder to himself when he looks back at his achievements. He recognizes that fulfillment in a career goes beyond trophies.
His Major dream lives on, but so does his commitment to perspective. Alex will make another push on the most demanding stage in front of the home fans in Melbourne in January.
"Sometimes it's never enough, right? For me, the most important thing is to use everything as motivation to win a Grand Slam. Obviously, it's a huge dream, but at the same time, you have to accept that some things might happen, while others will not.
Ultimately, my goal is to be happy with what I have done in my career, and that comes down to what I can control. Winning a Major is beyond my control; improving and having the right attitude and effort is not.
At the same time, I have to give myself a pat on the back every now and then. It's all about the small victories. I have to be kinder to myself," Alex de Minaur said.
