'I can hurt them': Alex de Minaur's plan to be a 'menace' on clay courts in pursuit of grand slam title

Alex de Minaur says he's overcome a slight mental burnout and is ready to take on the challenge of going one step further than he did at Roland-Garros last year.

De Minaur was beaten in he quarter-finals last year after becoming the first Australian man to reach the stage at the event in 20 years.

Having endured a rocky run in the past on the clay surface, the top-ranked Aussie admitted his success at the event was a much-needed turning point in his career.

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"In previous years, I hadn't won more than two matches here. It was a tournament that gave me so much confidence and self-belief," de Minaur told Duncan McKenzie-McHarg for Stan Sport's Grand Slam Daily.

"A big turning point in my career. I really started to feel like I could be a menace on the clay and I could enjoy playing on this surface, which I wasn't sure if I was ever going to feel that way.

"I definitely have grown a lot of confidence and feel happy with the way I'm playing.

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"I feel like regardless of who is in front of me that I can hurt them and be a menace on any given day just like it's any other surface."

Since the 2024 French Open, de Minaur has advanced into the quarter-finals of all three grand slam tournaments and won his ninth ATP title at the Libema Open.

But the ninth seed has been dealt a tough draw in his pursuit for grand slam glory in France as he faces a potential quarter-final battle with world No.1 Jannik Sinner.

Sinner returned from his three-month doping suspension in style as he advanced to the final of the Italian Open, where he was defeated in straight sets by Carlos Alcaraz.

With many rivals like Sinner competing in tournaments just a week out from the French Open, de Minaur said his decision to rest was in the best interest for his body and mind.

"I think something quite important for me was to take a week off competing. I felt like I had played a lot of matches and was feeling a bit burnt mentally," de Minaur told Grand Slam Daily.

"It was important for me to have a nice week at home where I could get some good training in and come to Roland Garros fresh, full of energy and ready to win a lot of matches, and hopefully go deep in the tournament. I'm feeling great."

De Minaur will begin his campaign at the Roland Garros on Sunday when he faces Serbia's Laslo Djere in the first round.

The world No.9 has defeated Djere on all three occasions on the professional tour.

If de Minaur is to have the run he is hoping for, he will face a third-round meeting with rising teenage star Jakub Mensik and last-16 battle with Jack Draper.

For all the Roland-Garros headlines, talking points and highlights, Grand Slam Daily will be streaming every morning of the tournament from Monday, live and exclusive on Stan Sport from 11am AEST.

​Hosted by Chris Stubbs with renowned Australian player, coach and commentator Wally Masur, the pair will cross regularly over the course of the tournament to McKenzie-McHarg on the ground in Paris, who will be chatting with some of the biggest names in world tennis.