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

Coaches Nook

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

Australian takes on countryman Thompson for US Open QF spot

September 02, 2024

Alex de Minaur is having fun with one other fruitful season. The Australian, No. 10 within the PIF ATP Rankings, peaked at No. 6 a number of months in the past and has claimed two titles in 2024 (Acapulco and ’s-Hertogenbosch).

De Minaur additionally reached the final eight at each Roland Garros and Wimbledon. On Monday, De Minaur will tackle his countryman Jordan Thompson on the US Open for a spot in one more main quarter-final. What is evident is that, regardless of his 25 years, the Australian continues to be getting higher. His latest enhancements have earned him a spot among the many greatest gamers on the earth.

“Actually, there’s no secret to progress aside from following our most elementary concepts and rules,” Adolfo Gutierrez, De Minaur’s coach, informed ATPTour.com in New York. “My father taught me that it’s each day exhausting work, by no means giving up, and believing in what we’re doing.

“The targets we’ve right this moment are nonetheless to enhance every thing: to be a greater participant, a greater individual and to not accept something. In addition to trusting oneself within the large moments, and coaching to be prepared, above all for the Grand Slams, which have been on our to-do listing.”

In fact, the 2024 model of De Minaur was not in-built a few days. Gutierrez, who has been with the Australian since his junior days, is aware of precisely what the method was to enhance a participant who already had formidable foundations. Now, via pure exhausting work, De Minaur has discovered his place among the many elite.

“Since we began collectively, we’ve tried to keep up a transparent focus, which has been to base ourselves on bettering bodily, sustaining his pace and above all his energy,” defined Gutierrez. “Lately the work has been extra about taking part in rather more aggressively in an try and dominate as a lot as doable.”

The purpose is over when @alexdeminaur says so! 💨@usopen | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/PaRlCboTDa

— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 1, 2024

And what of De Minaur’s psychological improvement?

“I strongly imagine that his largest enchancment has been psychological,” acknowledged Gutierrez. “With out confidence, with out believing in oneself, in what we need to obtain, it could’ve been not possible. We’ve been engaged on many issues mentally and we’re seeing the outcomes of that. It motivates us to imagine extra in it. As a consequence, it helps me additional develop and enhance his tennis.”

De Minaur nonetheless has some unfinished enterprise in 2024: he needed to withdraw from Wimbledon earlier than taking to courtroom for his last-eight conflict in opposition to Novak Djokovic as the results of a hip cartilage harm. If he defeats Thompson on Monday in New York, he’ll get one other chunk at a Grand Slam quarter-final.

“We weren’t in a position to play the quarters at Wimbledon due to the harm, and we have been taking part in very effectively,” lamented Gutierrez. “After that, the restoration wasn’t straightforward, however fortunately we’re again and feeling higher on daily basis.

“Whenever you attain the quarters of a Grand Slam you’re all the time taking part in with one of the best gamers at the moment, and it will get very robust. You need to keep within the second and hope that the nerves and stress have an effect on your opponent extra, and that issues go effectively when it comes to that little little bit of luck you all the time want.”

In that context, De Minaur has some formidable targets in thoughts, for this season and, in fact, for the remainder of his profession.

“Actually, we by no means set limits for ourselves and it’s not as a result of we’re boastful or pretentious,” stated Gutierrez, whose cost is at the moment eighth within the PIF ATP Reside Race To Turin. “I feel that will be a mistake on our half. No matter has to occur will occur, however we’ll work to be as excessive as doable and to remain there, which is essentially the most tough half.

“Brief time period, the purpose is to be in Turin [at the Nitto ATP Finals]. It might be a dream after the harm and lacking some vital tournaments. We’ll preserve attempting, or not less than to have the ability to end our first yr among the many greatest, which was the purpose at the beginning of the yr.”

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