Brisbane is key for de Minaur Open seeding

Replicating his semi-final run at the Brisbane International looms as crucial for Alex de Minaur's hopes of gaining a seeding at the Australian Open.

Alex de Minaur

Alex de Minaur could be seeded at a grand slam for the first time at January's Australian Open. (AAP)

It was the breakthrough tournament in his breakout year but Alex de Minaur's Brisbane International success could yet cost him an Australian Open seeding.

De Minaur was an unheralded wildcard when he reached the semi-finals of last year's tournament in the Queensland capital.

It was the start to a season where the teenager would go from unknown to Australia's top-ranked men's player.

His ranking of world No.31 puts him firmly in the frame for one of the 32 seedings for the men's draw of the Australian Open.

Those seedings will be determined after this summer's Brisbane International, meaning de Minaur has to replicate his success to retain the 90 ranking points he earned.

The 19-year-old is unfazed, however, and was simply excited to revive some memories with a media call at Pat Rafter Arena on Tuesday.

"This is where it all started for me, I gained a lot of confidence from playing here and the result I had," he said.

"I was able to just take that momentum throughout the whole year and from here I started to believe more in myself and started backing myself."

De Minaur's stiff-legged movements on Tuesday hinted at a big start to his pre-season campaign.

He said not having to go through a pre-tournament wildcard qualifying campaign will ensure he's fit and firing when the Brisbane International starts on December 30.

He's also adamant there'll be no dramatic change to the procedure which delivered him such a successful year.

"It was a much-needed break and I feel like I'm refreshed and ready to go," he said.

"I'm still the same guy, still doing the same things, it's just about keeping in the moment and putting myself in the best possible position to perform.

"If I keep doing the little things and keep getting better, I'm a strong believer that the results will show."


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Source: AAP


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