Alex de Minaur has returned to tennis at the Vienna Open after a hip injury saw him miss the UTS event in Hong Kong, but he’s been warned to make changes to his style in order to increase his longevity.
De Minaur has been told he could challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, and he’s arguably one of the most consistent players on the ATP Tour.
The Australian is currently nestled inside the top eight and there’s a high probability he’ll qualify for the ATP Finals.
During his Vienna Open match against Jurij Rodionov, de Minaur was urged to make changes to his game following his hip injury.
Alex de Minaur told to ‘adapt’ his game and play less tournaments
The Aussie looked impressive in his first-round match against Rodionov, but Naomi Cavaday still sent a warning to de Minaur.
“He might need to adapt,” said the broadcaster on Sky Sports Tennis following a conversation about de Minaur’s hip injury.
“It’s the sort of game style that’s not really going to cut it at 36 because you take 2% off your speed, and all of a sudden, you’re not the fastest in the world, and it’s not that difficult for your opponent to deal with.”
“He’s more than capable of that, but I think the players who relied on so much physicality and, of course, as consistent as he is. It’s all fairly attritional on the body.”
Cavaday also suggested that de Minaur played less tournaments in the future following his physical issues in 2025.
Also, he plays a lot,” began Cavaday. “I wonder if he thinks in a few years: ‘Okay, if I do want to extend my career to my mid-thirties, maybe I just play a few less tournaments, or cherry pick a bit more’. We’ve seen a lot of players do that in their thirties now.”
The Aussie will likely play the Paris Masters after the Vienna Open as he looks to secure his place in the ATP Finals.
Alex de Minaur’s 2025 season has been an almighty slog
It’s no surprise that Cavaday is worried about de Minaur’s longevity as the Aussie has played plenty of tennis in 2025.
The World No. 7 has played 70 matches across 2025, with an impressive 50 of those earning the Aussie the win.
de Minaur is third on the list for the most matches in 2025, only behind Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz.
The Aussie’s style of play is incredibly tough, and it’s no surprise his body has started to give up on him toward the end of the season.
