'I CAN BE DANGEROUS': DEMON EAGER FOR CLAY SWING, HOPES TO 'GIVE BACK TO THE NEXT GENERATION'

(Getty/Clive Brunskill)

As the clay-court season returns for another year, Alex de Minaur will draw inspiration from a positive 2024 ahead of his Monte Carlo campaign.

Albeit his least favourite surface, de Minaur's quarter-final runs at the Monte Carlo Masters and French Open offered a much-needed boost of confidence, considering he failed to win more than one match in a clay tournament the year prior in 2023.

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Speaking exclusively to The First Serve before his round of 32 tussle, the world No.10 has arrived at the Principality with a newfound belief on the red dirt.

"Last year I grew a lot on this surface, got a lot of confidence, and played some great tennis. I really started to understand my game and how I can be dangerous on this surface," de Minaur said.

"The way I see it, this is a very big push both physically and mentally to hopefully play some good tennis. We've got the grass just around the corner and I don't need extra motivation for that."

In January, de Minaur launched his own foundation in an attempt to guide a group of young Australian tennis talent.

"It's extremely important [to give back]. It's one of my passions [and] it's obviously been something that's been in the works to give back to the next generation" he told The First Serve.

"I was very fortunate in my life to have amazing people around me to kind of teach me and to learn from, and I just want to give back and help them on their journey which is going to be a long one, it's going to be a difficult one.

"But they can hear some tips from me here and there, and if I can be a positive aspect in their lives, then I can be very happy with my job."

Before arriving in Monte Carlo, the Sydneysider was in the French city of Nîmes competing in the latest edition of the Ultimate Tennis Showdown (UTS), a shortened version of the sport.

Playing in front of a unique 2,000-year-old Colosseum-like venue, there was nothing but praise from de Minaur.

"The venue that we played at a couple of days ago was indeed iconic and one of the coolest places I've played tennis on. It was an amazing atmosphere" de Minaur shared.

"I think the UTS as a whole is a good complement for a different product to be shown to the tennis fans which is a shorter version, a little bit higher paced, can attract maybe a little bit more of a younger generation allowing kids being around noise, music, movement.

"It's a fun way for me to be a little bit more relaxed on the tennis court, because you're very stressed or trying your best to win. Same thing happens in UTS, but you are able to have a little bit more of a smile in a competitive nature."

De Minaur faces Czechia's Tomáš Macháč in Monte Carlo tonight, not before 10:10pm AEST.

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