Exhibitions during off-season? De Minaur fires back after UTS title: “This is my pre-season”

Alex de Minaur isn't slowing down during the off-season. This weekend, he competed in the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), where he became the first player to win three UTS titles, backing up his London crown from last year and adding it to his earlier triumph in Antwerp 2020. The Australian needed to come from behind after dropping the first quarter to Casper Ruud, but he eventually settled into a fast, controlled gear to overturn the match. His victory capped off a strong Sunday in which he also handled Ugo Humbert in the semifinals.

The event, known for its fast-paced and experimental format, has long suited De Minaur’s intensity and eagerness to take the ball early. In London, he showed once again that he thrives in situations demanding quick adaptation and relentless competitiveness. After the award ceremony ended, the Australian joked about the peculiar lightning bolt-shaped trophy he was taking home. “It’s pretty exciting, you don’t see this type of trophy too often, but yeah, it makes for great decoration at the house. I’m not too sure how Katie’s gonna feel about it,” he mentioned to Sky Sports, referring to his girlfriend, the British tennis player Katie Boulter.

Despite the final looking relatively controlled after the first quarter, De Minaur admitted that facing Ruud in this format always requires a rapid emotional and physical reset, especially having to take the court barely less than an hour after his semifinal victory against Humbert. “Ultimately it was a tough kind of turnaround, right? It’s always when you play a match, and then try to come back. You’re kind of cold, then getting back into the groove of things, and obviously Casper is a hell of a competitor, so he’s always going to make it very difficult.”

What allowed him to take control was his confidence in stepping forward and dictating with the short ball—something he has been consciously working on during the off-season period. For De Minaur, UTS is more than an exhibition; it's an opportunity to test and sharpen specific tools without the typical tour pressure. “Ultimately I just had to back myself, you know, when I had the short ball, just ultimately go after it, and I’m glad it worked my way.”

With many players opting for light exhibitions during December, De Minaur explained that he approaches UTS with a more structured mindset. While criticism has been abundant towards players who complain about the calendar while simultaneously participating in exhibitions in their free time, for De Minaur, these types of events represent an opportunity to prepare for the 2026 season.

“A lot of people, you know, talk about the fact that players play exhibitions in the off-season, but for me, this is my pre-season,” the world No. 7 said. “I’m training around these matches as if it was any other day. It is a good way to get out on the court and ultimately enjoy yourself. Play with less stress, right?

The Australian also pointed out that this environment allows him to apply technical changes at full speed in real match situations, something that can be difficult to replicate in training alone. ““Normally when you’re playing on Tour, there’s a whole lot more stress going on, and this is a great way to go out there, kind of work on a couple of the things that you’ve been trying to fix, and ultimately gauge how your level’s going.”

With the new season approaching, De Minaur is clear about his priorities: consolidate a strong base, stay healthy, and start sharply in Australia. “I’ve got probably tomorrow off, yeah, Monday off and then Tuesday back to work,” he said. “I mean the whole goal is to ensure that I’m ready to go for 2026 and I can start then in my home ground, and hopefully with a bang. That’s going to be the main focus.”

The Australian will have his first event of 2026 at the United Cup, where he will join teenage star Maya Joint in a group that shares with Czech Republic and Norway—where he will once again face Casper Ruud.