A Davis Cup tie has come at the perfect time for Alex de Minaur as he searches to recapture a spark after nearly a decade on tour.
The Australian, ranked as high as number five in the world earlier this year, fell to ninth after his shock second-round US Open loss earlier this month.
A quarterfinalist at the Australian Open this year, the 27-year-old has missed golden opportunities to go further in majors since, with Alexander Zverev instead netting two titles as Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz both endured injury-hit seasons.
De Minaur headed straight to Brisbane after his Flushing Meadows disappointment, training with Australian Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt for more than a week before their qualifying tie against Poland begins on Saturday.
“Back here, around the boys, some good practice, a great team environment; it’s been a great little change-up for me,” de Minaur said.
“This is exactly what I need to get that spark back that maybe I was missing.
“I’ve had that spark for 10 years, every single day, right?
“There are stages through your career where things happen, and maybe you don’t feel your best. But the timing of this week, it feels like everything’s clicking together.”
De Minaur has previously taken his losses hard; he copped his most recent defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp with uncharacteristic nonchalance.
But he is adamant the competitive edge remains as he prepares to head a team that includes doubles ace Max Purcell fresh off an 18-month ban for an anti-doping breach.
“Physically I’m great, and mentally I’m in great shape,” de Minaur said.
“A rough patch … I’ve been very fortunate in my career to not have many of those.
“The tennis is still there, mentally there’s been matches I haven’t played the way I would like.
“But I’ve got a lot to give, a lot left in the tank, and hopefully I can show it.
“I haven’t plateaued in my career. I’m hungry for more and feel I’ve got the opportunities to achieve it.”
De Minaur burst onto the scene when, after being handed a late wildcard, he surged to the Brisbane International semifinals in 2017.
A year later he made his Davis Cup debut at the same venue, losing in a fifth-set tie-break to Zverev.
“I love team competitions … it brings that extra oomph in my game,” said de Minaur, who is 17-10 in Davis Cup singles matches.
Poland are without former world number six Hubert Hurkacz, who has skipped the tie as he manages his return from injury, and will be led by world number 73 Kamil Majchrzak.
Rinky Hijikata and Purcell trained together, against Hewitt and de Minaur, at Wednesday’s training in a sign they will contest Sunday’s doubles tie.
The full draw will be announced on Friday.
AAP
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