"Even though a lot of people may not think so, I know how to beat him": Alex de Minaur refuses to fear 0-13 H2H vs Jannik Sinner

Alex de Minaur walked off the court in Turin knowing exactly how steep the climb had been — and how much steeper it would continue to be if he wants to break the Jannik Sinner code. The Australian once again fell to the defending ATP Finals champion, extending their head-to-head to 0-13, despite delivering one of his cleanest runs of the season. But as he explained, the frustration has transformed into clarity rather than defeatism.

The Australian insisted that the scoreboard does not fully capture how much he has improved or how close some moments felt. He acknowledged that Sinner is currently playing at an extraordinary level but remains convinced that the gap is not insurmountable. “Even though a lot of people may not think so, I know how to beat him,” he said. “It’s just not that easy to do, right? You’ve got to hit the ball very hard, very flat, very deep and very close to the line. So it is something that I try to do, but obviously it’s not the easiest thing.”

There was also a note of pride in the way he described his approach and evolution this season. De Minaur highlighted the emotional side of the year, drawing a contrast between moments of confidence and moments of strain. He admitted that maintaining belief against players like Sinner requires an elevated psychological edge. “You need to be brave; you need to commit to your patterns and trust the work you’ve put in,” he said.

Reflecting on the season overall, De Minaur stressed that progress and setbacks coexist in elite tennis. “It’s tough, of course. You go home and you think about what you could’ve done differently,” he said. “But losses like these hurt, and they motivate me even more. I’ve played some of the best tennis of my career. I’ve pushed myself physically, mentally, and I’ve come out stronger.”

Alex de Minaur made clear that facing Jannik Sinner in Turin comes with layers of difficulty beyond tactics or pace. “He’s serving bigger, he’s hitting through the court like crazy, and he’s not giving you any free points,” he said. The conditions in Turin — quick, low-bouncing indoor hard courts — amplify Sinner’s strengths, and De Minaur admitted that he has often struggled to dictate. “He takes time away from you immediately. That’s what makes him so tough.”

Still, the Australian reiterated that the matchup is not unwinnable. “I do think for me to have genuine chances, I need to serve well throughout the whole match,” the world No. 7 added. “My serve dropped a little bit and could have been better.” In the first set, De Minaur landed 54% of his first serves, winning 72% of them, while in the second set his percentage fell to 48%, with just 43% effectiveness. Meanwhile, Sinner maintained over 80% success on first-serve points, averaging 78% service points won against De Minaur’s 58%.

He argued that the setbacks against Sinner — especially the latest in Turin — are part of the evolution he embraces. “Losses like these hurt, but they motivate me even more,” he added.

De Minaur also reflected on the psychological process of facing the same opponent repeatedly without finding the breakthrough. “You need to be brave; you need to commit to your patterns and trust the work you’ve put in,” he said. “I feel like I should have finished my Turin campaign having won two matches instead of one. But you can’t really change the past. You’ve just got to do your best to learn from it, get back up and keep on heading forward. So that’s ultimately the goal now.”

As the 2026 season approaches, De Minaur believes he is closer to solving the Sinner puzzle than the numbers suggest. “I’ll get my chance again,” he said. “And when it comes, I’ll be ready.” The Australian ended by emphasizing that he draws as much fuel from defeat as from victory. “Nothing is guaranteed in this sport, but I know I’m improving. I know I’m on the right track. And I know I can beat these guys.”