Picture the scene: a tennis coach in the player’s box, hiding behind his sunglasses, intently observing every point. The player on court tries to catch the eye of his coach, seeking some much-needed support during the toughest moments of battle.
In a sport that demands such mental strength and endurance, a solid connection with the team is like having an extra shot in your repertoire. A sturdy bond and trust in the team can help players deal with their emotions at the biggest tournaments on Tour.
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Now imagine that coach has been providing the player with that support since he was a child. Watching him grow, helping him mature, and helping him build his dreams as he makes his way to the pinnacle of the sport. Adolfo Gutierrez is exactly that to Australian Alex de Minaur, the World No. 6 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings.
The Spanish coach, recognised as June’s ATP Spotlight Coach of the Month, has made loyalty and mutual trust the key to converting a young boy into one of the biggest stars in professional tennis.
“Since I met him, when he came to the club at eight or nine, it’s been a long journey alongside a boy who loved tennis,” remembers Gutierrez, who welcomed De Minaur to a club in Alicante, when the Aussie could barely see over the net. “Above all, he loved competing. If I had to define it in some way, let’s say he had an amazing journey, where the dreams we had always imagined have come true. That ‘imagine if one day we play…’ has become a reality and much more.”
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/07/10/17/28/adolfo3.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Alex de Minaur and Adolfo Gutierrez have one of the most enduring partnerships on the ATP Tour. Photo: Esther de Minaur.” />
Alex de Minaur and Adolfo Gutierrez have one of the most enduring partnerships on the ATP Tour. Photo: Esther de Minaur.
De Minaur has prioritised stability in his working environment. Enjoying the form of his life in 2024, having burst into the Top 10, De Minaur has a secret weapon in his team: Gutierrez, who has known him for almost two decades.
Gutierrez and De Minaur’s bond is one that will last a lifetime. The pair holds no secrets and shares complete confidence to talk about any aspect of De Minaur’s career.
“It’s a journey in which the connection has gradually grown without forcing it,” says Gutierrez. “It’s the opposite of what people might think, we don’t need to talk to each other much. Simply, when he needs it, he knows I’m here. I’d like to define myself as a huge support in his life. I’m not his father, I already have enough problems with my own children [laughs], but I’ll always be there when he needs me.
“We used to share a room and we still do sometimes. Honestly, we’ve never minded, our relationship goes beyond that of a coach and a player. As we know each other so well, it’s simple, we respect each other’s space and we really get on very well together.”
A father to two children, ages eight and four, it comes naturally to Gutierrez to work on personal connections. De Minaur is the same boy who trusted his coach’s words from day one. He is still the same kid who wanted to stay by Gutierrez’s side when they had to go their separate ways for a time.
When De Minaur was 12 years old, and one of the best players in his age group, he was faced with a dilemma. Tennis Australia offered to finance De Minaur’s career and provide comprehensive development facilities to help the Sydney-born player become a professional.
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/07/09/21/29/de-minaur-gutierrez-australian-open-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Alex de Minaur shares a laugh with Adolfo Gutierrez at this year’s Australian Open.” />
Alex de Minaur shares a laugh with Adolfo Gutierrez at this year’s Australian Open. Credit: Kelly Defina/Getty Images
The resulting distance between Gutierrez and De Minaur did little to dampen their bond. Rather, those few years strengthened their forged connection.
“I look back fondly on those years,” said Gutierrez. “First, because we stayed in telephone contact. He came to Spain some summers and, also, we have a funny anecdote from it. I sat down with him with the idea of convincing him to go to Australia. He wanted to stay with me in Alicante, his family was important…
“Sitting down at the club, I told him what our life would be like, drawing it on the ground. I told him we would meet again, although really nobody knew if that would happen.”
Years later, with the plans for his professional career underway, De Minaur returned to Spain to keep working with Gutierrez every day. Building a solid team was a priority for Gutierrez, who began creating the architecture that now surrounds the Aussie talent.
“In the end, you surround yourself with people you trust, with whom you’ve worked before and who have always responded well. We’ve always had people that contribute to the ideas we were already working on,” said Gutierrez, whose brother Sergio, ex-World No. 156, was also in the box for a few weeks. “I always value honesty and hard work in a team, people who understand that working with a player means doing things exclusively for his benefit.
“On the team, for example, we have Emilio [José Poveda], who fulfills the roles of physio and fitness coach. I strongly believe in his work and professionalism. [Emilio and I] have been working together for almost 25 years and we know each other perfectly. I always communicate with him and I tell him what I want to see in Alex and what he has to improve. He takes care of the rest,” explains Gutierrez.
<img src=”/-/media/images/news/2024/07/09/21/34/gutierrez-wimbledon-2024.jpg” style=”width:100%;” alt=”Adolfo Gutierrez courtside at Wimbledon.” />
Adolfo Gutierrez courtside at Wimbledon. Credit: Corinne Dubreuil/ATP Tour
The connection between the team is one that only comes with time. A young boy who dreamed of playing on the ATP Tour, now a contender for any trophy on the circuit would not be a reality without Gutierrez, who has co-authored every chapter in a book that is still only half-written.
“To me, the most important thing is his progress on the mental side. Now he absorbs pressure better, the load before a match, and he’s more aware of everything that surrounds tennis. He manages everything much better. To me, that’s the most important work we’ve done with Alex,” he explains. “Nothing surprises me anymore after so long, neither good things nor bad [laughs]. If I had to point to one thing, it would be a small step up in professionalism. He knows what he’s doing and he’s in no doubt about what he needs.”
Behind the ever-present hat and some of the fastest legs in the locker room, lies a hard-worker who just keeps breaking the mould. A level-headed kid with simple habits, completely unfazed as he attempts to make a space for himself in tennis history.
“Alex is a calm guy who likes routine. Maybe he’s a little disorganised, although Katie [Boulter] is working on that [laughs],” jokes Gutierrez, referring to the player’s girlfriend, who is currently Britain’s leading female player.
Enjoying more success than ever this season, De Minaur is looking to keep climbing. He is now a consolidated member of the Top 10 and a contender at the majors. Still, he remains faithful to those who were with him when he first stepped onto a court.
“We’ve always believed he could do it. It was a question of whether Alex would realise. Besides the specific work on each surface, it’s the confidence of knowing that he can do it. In the end, you work to achieve your goals and we know it’s not easy. Contrary to what many may think, we’ve never given in and we’ve continued every day with the hope and excitement in our minds. We’ve worked hard for that goal but we’re never happy and we’ll keep working more if necessary to keep climbing as many places as possible. We want to go further and further in the Grand Slams.”
Whatever destiny awaits him, one thing is constant for De Minaur. Gutierrez will be watching over him from the box.
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