Alex de Minaur plans temporary tennis break after early Wimbledon exit
Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur is planning a temporary break from the sport after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Italy’s Flavio Cobolli at Wimbledon.
The 27-year-old was eliminated 7-5 7-6 6-3 by Cobolli during a frustrating evening on Court One.
His fiancee, British number one Katie Boulter, watched from the stands wearing an England football shirt.
Despite the disappointing loss, he firmly dismissed any immediate thoughts of permanent retirement.
Grand Slam frustrations continue
The defeat leaves the Sydney-born player still searching for a major breakthrough.
He has won 11 career ATP Tour titles but has never progressed past the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam tournament.
His best run at SW19 came in 2024, when a hip injury forced him to withdraw from a highly anticipated quarter-final against Novak Djokovic.
Reflecting on his latest exit, the Australian admitted his ultimate career ambitions feel increasingly distant.
“I won’t play a tournament for a while,” De Minaur said.
“The goals, the beliefs, the dreams that you have, they kind of start fading away or they feel a little bit further away than when they once were.”
Shifting focus away from the court
The world number nine acknowledged the mental toll of the sport but vowed to eventually return to the ATP tour.
“I’m finding it harder, that’s the reality of it,” he added.
“It hurts like hell now, but I’ll get back up because I’m a competitor through and through.”
He is scheduled to defend his Washington Open title at the end of July.
However, the timing of his return remains uncertain as he prepares to marry Boulter later this summer.
The former US Open quarter-finalist intends to use his upcoming wedding as a positive distraction from his struggles on the grass.
“I’ve got some pretty big things happening soon, so some stuff that I’m very excited for,” he explained.
“I think my best way forward is to channel my focus into that, into something positive.”
Meanwhile, Cobolli progresses to the next round after delivering a dominant performance.
“I think I played one of the best matches ever, especially on this surface that is always tough to play,” the Italian remarked.