Fresh Demon vows to be smarter at training
INSPIRED by Ashleigh Barty and stung by a brush with dreaded osteitis pubis, Alex de Minaur is determined not to let any more opportunities slip.
Foiled by a Fever-Tree championship washout at Queen’s Club, de Minaur revealed over-training contributed to an enforced eight-week spell in April and May.
“The very important thing of training is recovery,” he said. “And sometimes it’s not about how many hours you train, but how specific you are in training in the right areas. Short and sharp sometimes does more than long sessions.
“I could have done better because you don’t pay too much attention to it and that was my fault.
“But with experiences, you learn these things. At least it’s better now with than in a couple of years when I’m in my prime.”
The Sydneysider said he had learned from his mistakes, while paying tribute to coNewcombe medallist Barty.
“I got unlucky with an injury that took me out for a fairly long time, almost eight weeks,” he said.
“I felt that happened when I was playing my best tennis but this is part of the sport.
“It’s given me a real focus on what I need to do with my body and that it doesn’t happen again.
“I definitely did not enjoy being stuck at home while everyone else was out there playing tournaments, doing what I love.
“So it’s a real focus for doing everything I can to not get injured again.”
Like Barty, Wimbledon junior champion in 2011, de Minaur also excelled as a junior at the All-England Club, reaching the boy’s final.
But he is in awe of Barty’s French Open victory. “It was amazing,” he said. “Ash and her team have always been great to me, always been super nice.
“We are [2018] joint Newcombe Medal winners and to see what she has done is pretty special.
“The her.” sky is the limit for