Alex de Minaur no longer "a little kid with clown shoes"

Alex de Minaur is racing towards the top—almost literally. The 21-year-old Australian is one of the best movers on the ATP Tour, and is now also a first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist this week at the US Open.

But it wasn't always this way.

“I think one of the biggest things is I grew into my body. I mean, as a young kid, I was probably 11 or 12 and already had the same size foot I have right now,” he told press. “So it felt like a little bit of a little kid with clown shoes on. I didn't have the best footwork, the best movement.

"So it was just a lot of work, especially in technique of movement from a young age. Then me just growing into my body, those two things together. That's where I am right now, so I'm pretty happy with that.”

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The still-barely-6' 0" de Minaur won three titles in 2019 and began the 2020 season by getting wins against Alexander Zverev and Denis Shapovalov, as well as taking Rafael Nadal to three sets at the ATP Cup. But then he had to hit the brakes, first with injury and then the tour shutdown.

Still, he hasn't taken long to get up to speed again following a first-round defeat at the Western & Southern Open. On his way to the quarterfinals, the No. 28-ranked Australian scored wins against Vasek Pospisil, Richard Gasquet and Karen Khachanov.

“I didn't have the highest confidence coming in with the week before, so it's kind of just been building. I have just tried to gather some momentum,” said De Minaur, who also reached the fourth round at the 2019 US Open. “I ended up playing some good tennis against quality players. So hopefully, I can just keep that going and use it to my advantage, I guess. Now I'm in the quarters of a Slam for the first time, but nothing changes. Just gotta keep on going.”

Next up he plays second seed Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals.