How did Alex de Minaur’s 43 hard court wins become a chart-topper? ATP Tour
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How De Minaur’s 43 hard-court wins rose to the top of the leaderboard
The Australian says there are two key ways to give him an edge in hard-fought games
January 22, 2026
ATP
Alex de Minaur is a 10-time Tour level champion.
Written by ATP Staff
During the Australian Open, ATPTour.com will give fans an inside look at the leaders in key statistical categories, showing how performances throughout 2025 contribute to a successful season and the promise of more great years in 2026.
Australia’s Alex de Minaur was a staple on hard courts in 2025, recording a tour-leading 43 wins and shattering his previous benchmark on the surface.
One of the fastest players on tour, De Minaur suffocates opponents from the baseline with his powerful court coverage, clean strokes and tenacity. His mettle was on full display at the ATP 500 in Washington, D.C., where he dramatically saved three championship points to defeat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
De Minaur said after his first-round victory at the Australian Open that two tactics away from opponents underpinned his success on hard courts: flat shots and playing close to the baseline.
“My shots on both sides are on the flatter side, which means the ball is sliding through as it hits the court… If the ball is coming back to the opponent faster and faster, then most of the time he can’t think,” De Minaur said.
“I’ve always felt like I was able to use my speed to retrieve and defend, but one of the biggest things that helped me take the next step was using my speed to take time away from my opponent, and that’s where court positioning is so important.
“It’s much harder than if I’m a few meters behind the baseline and then my ball is slow and messy and my opponent has enough time to create and hit the winner, especially the way players are hitting the ball now. When they have time, they’re going to bite the ball. So I try not to give my opponent time.”
De Minaur’s hard court record over the past three seasons
| 2025 | 43-17 |
| 2024 | 30-15 days |
| 2023 | 36-18 |
De Minaur’s victory in Washington, D.C. marked his tenth Tour-level title, eight of which have come on hard courts. The 26-year-old has had other strong results on hard courts in 2025, including quarter-final appearances at both the Australian Open and US Open. He was a finalist in Rotterdam and a semi-finalist in Beijing and Vienna.
De Minaur had the most wins on hard courts last season, while Jannik Sinner had the best winning percentage on the surface (92.9%, 39-3 record). Sinner won five of his six titles on hard courts in 2025, including the Australian Open and the Nitto ATP Finals in his native Italy. De Minaur ranked fifth in hard-court win percentage last season, behind Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic and Felix Auger-Aliassime.
2025 hard court winning percentage
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