Alex de Minaur has got off to a solid start this year, and he is doing his best to keep up with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Sinner has not quite hit top form yet in 2026 by his standards, while Alcaraz has continued to set the pace at the top of the men’s game.
The Spaniard and Daniil Medvedev lead the way with two ATP titles each so far this season, while De Minaur is among several players who have picked up one title apiece.
Despite a quieter stretch by his standards, Sinner still sits near the top alongside Alcaraz. However, there is one area where the Aussie is closing in on both.
Alex de Minaur only trails Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz for returning
The ATP assesses players using three main statistical areas: serving, returning, and pressure play.
Sinner leads both serving and returning over the past 52 weeks, while Alcaraz is ahead in pressure situations, underscoring their control over the men’s game at the moment.
However, De Minaur is making a name for himself on the return leaderboard, sitting third behind only the two best players in the world.
Given his speed around the court and never-say-die attitude, it is not a total shock to see him there, but it is impressive all the same.
This achievement should significantly boost his confidence moving forward, especially as the sport urgently requires a competitor capable of challenging the dominance currently held by Sinner and Alcaraz.
Alex de Minaur has room to grow in his service game
It remains to be seen whether or not De Minaur can indeed be that person to challenge the leading duo, but he is certainly making a good effort of it.
So far, though, he has not managed a deep run at the Grand Slams, still waiting on his first semi-final appearance.
His return play remains strong, and under pressure he is ranked ninth. The bigger concern is his serving, where he is currently down in 36th.
There is time to address this before Indian Wells, although the tournament is fast approaching.
De Minaur took an early loss in Acapulco after his Rotterdam title run, but that might have been a blessing in disguise. At Indian Wells, the extra rest could prove valuable against opponents who have had busier schedules.
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