Alex de Minaur scooped his fourth Newcombe Medal and third in a row on Monday night at the annual Australian tennis awards. While Cruz Hewitt and Emerson Jones were named Australia’s junior players of the year.
Australian tennis royalty were among the many players, partners and administrators to dazzle on the blue carpet in Melbourne. Maya Joint, Kim Birrell, Adam Walton, Priscilla Hon and Tristan Schoolkate were the other nominees for the prestigious Newcombe Medal, but it ultimately went to World No.7 de Minaur.
Cruz Hewitt (R) won the male junior player of the year as players and partners dazzled at the Newcombe Medal. Image: Getty
The 26-year-old won his fourth Newcombe Medal – putting him one shy of the record held by Ash Barty with five. “I would like to thank John Newcombe himself,” de Minaur said in a video message from London, where he won the Ultimate Tennis Showdown on Sunday night.
“It’s an incredible honour to receive this medal. It’s been a great year and I’m very proud of everything that I’ve achieved. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without an incredible team.
“I’m very proud to be an Australian and I’ll promise to do everything I can to get the most out of myself and continue to do John Newcombe and Australia proud.”
Alex de Minaur won his fourth Newcombe Medal. Image: Tennis Australia/Getty
John Newcombe tips Alex de Minaur to go even further
De Minaur equalled his career-high ranking of World No.6 in October, and is the only Australian man since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years ago to enter the ATP’s top-10. Last month he joined Hewitt and Newcombe as the only Australians to make the semis of the ATP Finals.
He’s yet to make the semi-finals of a grand slam and holds an 0-13 head-to-head record against Italian superstar Jannik Sinner. But Newcombe believes that’s about to change.
“De Minaur’s progression has been fantastic – each year he gets that little bit better,” Newcombe told AAP on Monday night. “And I think myself, like everybody else says, ‘Oh, come on, Alex, if you just had a better serve, you’d be in the top four.’ So let’s hope that he can do something about that.”
Newcombe said he’s been highly impressed by the crop of youngsters coming through in Australian tennis. Teenagers Jones and Cruz Hewitt won the junior player of the year awards, while 19-year-old Joint was the pick of the runners-up for the Newcombe Medal.
“Obviously because we’ve been at great heights we want to see Wimbledon champions and things like that,” Newcombe said. “We went adrift here for a while, and I get the feeling we’re heading back. There’s some new young talent coming up that are doing well.”
Aussie tennis legend impressed by Maya Joint
Joint was born in Michigan but switched allegiances from the USA to Australia in 2023. The 19-year-old won her first two WTA titles this year and is currently ranked World No.32. She’s Australia’s highest-ranked women’s player and will be seeded at the Australian Open.
“I’ve been really impressed by Maya Joint,” Newcombe said. “She’s had a terrific year and she’s just starting to believe that she belongs right up there at the top. She’s the quiet achiever, isn’t she, Maya?
“She just goes about her business and nothing really flashy, but she gets the job done – and I think she’s probably just touching the edges of how good she can actually be.”
Check out all the highlights – including the glitz and glamour – from the Newcombe Medal below:
John Newcombe along with current players, legends and award recipients. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Allan Stone receives the Spirit of Tennis Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Chris Mahony receives the Coaching Excellence – Performance Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Kirsty Cole receives the Volunteer Achievement Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Hunter Thompson receives the Most Outstanding Athlete with a Disability Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Hobart Out Tennis Club receives the Most Outstanding Inclusion Initiative Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Phillip Goodman receives the Excellence in Officiating Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Ros Balodis receives the Most Outstanding 35+ Tennis Master Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Emerson Jones receives the female junior player of the year award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Cruz Hewitt speaks to Todd Woodbridge after receiving the male junior athlete of the year award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Maya Joint speaks on stage during to the 2025 Newcombe Medal. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Owen Peemoeller receives the Coaching Excellence – Club Award. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Finn Broadbent (R) and partner. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley and wife Ali. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Daria Saville and Luke Saville. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Lleyton, Cruz and Bec Hewitt. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Chloe Hule and Emerson Jones. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Todd Woodbridge and Casey Dellacqua. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Matt Fraser and Kimberly Birrell. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Mila Micic and Elena Micic. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Loughlin Hunter and Storm Hunter. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Heath Davidson and Eden Jude. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)
Ella Arpino, John Newcombe and Angelika Newcombe. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Tennis Australia)