Alex de Minaur has become the highest-earning male prize-money winner in Australian tennis history, breaking the record previously held by Lleyton Hewitt. De Minaur won the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in London on Sunday night, walking away with nearly $1 million and one of the biggest pay cheques of his career.
The Aussie star has now won the event in back-to-back years, beating World No.12 Casper Ruud in the final to secure $964,000 in prize money and one of the coolest trophies in tennis. The World No.7 walked away with the $US390,000 winner’s cheque, plus a $US250,000 bonus for playing an earlier UTS event in France.
Alex de Minaur (L) now has more career prize money than Lleyton Hewitt (R). Image: Getty
He also received the lightning bolt trophy for the second-straight year, which resembles something Zeus would wield. The 26-year-old now has over US$21 million in career prize money – about $32 million Australian.
It takes him past Hewitt – who won $20,890,470 throughout his career – and makes him the highest prize-money earner in Australian men’s tennis history. De Minaur is currently 31st on the all-time ATP prize money list, and isn’t too far away from passing some absolute legends.
Ivan Lendl earned $21,262,417 in his illustrious career, while Boris Becker won $25,080,956. It illustrates how much more money is on offer these days compared to eras past.
De Minaur will also likely become the highest Australian earner – male or female – in the coming years. Despite de Minaur holding the men’s record, Ash Barty holds the record overall with $23,829,070. Sam Stosur won $20,070,126 throughout her career.
Alex de Minaur won the UTS lightning bolt trophy for the second year running. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Australia’s highest prize-money earners in tennis history
Alex de Minaur – $21,101,894
Lleyton Hewitt – $20,890,470
Daria Kasatkina – $14,239,744
Alex de Minaur masters Ultimate Tennis Showdown format
The $964,000 windfall was nearly as much as de Minaur received for making the semis of the ATP Finals last month ($US727,500), and doubled what he earned for winning his only ATP title of the year in Washington ($US420,000). De Minaur has taken a liking to the Ultimate Tennis Showdown, which is a fast-paced version of tennis designed to attract younger audiences.
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Founded by top coach Patrick Mouratoglou and the father of Australian star Alexei Popyrin (Alex Popyrin), the UTS features much shorter matches than traditional tennis, with crowds that don’t have to adhere to strict rules about staying silent. Played on special singles courts that don’t have the doubles lines, matches are played over four quarters lasting eight minutes each. There’s a number of unique rules like one serve per point and sudden-death points.
In five years since the UTS was introduced, de Minaur has now won three events. After his triumph at London’s Copper Box Arena this time last year, he’s now won in back-to-back years at the home of fiancee Katie Boulter. He beat Ruud 3-1 in Sunday’s final – 11-15, 15-10, 15-11, 16-7.
“It’s amazing to win here again,” he said. “London is a special place for me, and my home now.”
Alex de Minaur set for fourth Newcombe Medal
De Minaur is expected to receive more accolades on Monday night. He’s the odds-on favourite to win a fourth Newcombe Medal at the Australian Tennis Awards in Melbourne. That would take him one closer to Ash Barty’s record of five Newcombe medals.
“There’s no rest for me,” he said on Sunday. “I might take Monday off, but then it’s back on court practising for the new season.”
While de Minaur has mastered the UTS format, he’d love to break through against some of his top rivals in traditional tennis. He holds a horror 0-13 record head-to-head against Jannik Sinner, and is yet to make the semi-final of a grand slam. He’s made the quarters at all four slams, but hasn’t been able to take that next step so far.
with AAP