Sprinkle in semi-final runs at Barcelona,Lyon,Eastbourne and Stockholm,plus a year-end ranking of No.24 - after returning to the top 20 in May and August - and you have the highlights of a quality campaign.
“I feel like I’m very close. I’ve had lots of matches this year that have just slipped through my fingertips,against these (top) players,when I’ve had opportunities to really go on a run,” de Minaur toldThe Ageand theSydney Morning Herald.
“I’ve just got to keep pushing and putting myself in those positions. I like to tell myself that good karma will come my way,so hopefully sooner rather than later this big breakthrough is going to come.
“One of the big things for me to make the next big step is to get better results at the slams and Masters - but that will come.
“I strongly believe I’m doing the right things,and it’s just a matter of time. As soon I get a little breakthrough,hopefully,the floodgates will open,and I’ll be able to take advantage of that.”
Joining de Minaur in Australia’s Davis Cup squad are Thanasi Kokkinakis and Wimbledon doubles champions Max Purcell and Matt Ebden,while Jordan Thompson,Jason Kubler and emerging junior Charlie Camus are there as hitting partners.
Kyrgios remains unavailable for Davis Cup duty but will ramp up his Australian Open title assault at a heavily criticised Saudi Arabian exhibition event in mid-December that delivers him significant appearance money.
Kokkinakis partnered Kyrgios in last week’s ATP Finals in Turin,where Purcell and Ebden were alternates,while de Minaur and co. completed gruelling sessions in a five-day training camp in Paris under Lleyton Hewitt’s and Tony Roche’s watch.
They are now ready to face a challenging Netherlands squad led by Botic van de Zandschulp,Tallon Griekspoor and doubles stars Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop on an indoor hardcourt.
“It’s an amazing feeling. Ultimately,this is where we want to be and this is where I think the team feels like they belong,” de Minaur said.
“We’ve got a great team,and it’s really exciting to be at this stage of the event. Everyone’s had a very long year,but I can guarantee you we’re all going to be ready to come out firing.”
Victory over the Netherlands in their knockout quarter-final would set up a clash with Croatia or host nation Spain,so it doesn’t get any easier,but de Minaur said Australia could “100 per cent” win their first title since 2003.
They are trying to go one better than their countrywomen,whoreached the Billie Jean King Cup final in Glasgow two weeks ago.
“It’s all about passion. The importance of Davis Cup is definitely right up there,so we all want to get up and be able to produce for our country,our teammates,and our captain,” de Minaur said.
“I’ve got the utmost confidence in every one of the members here and,look,this is the team that got us here.
“We’re a very dangerous team,and we’ve got some great players and I think we can beat anyone on any given day. I’m extremely proud and privileged to be a part of this team.”
De Minaur will have a brief break after the Davis Cup,before pre-season stops in Monaco and his main base Alicante,where he will train with the likes of Cameron Norrie,Jannik Sinner and Grigor Dimitrov.
He will return to Sydney just before Christmas to complete his final preparations forthe new United Cup,then the Australian Open.
Australia’s Davis Cup clash with the Netherlands will be broadcast live on Gem from 2am AEDT Wednesday.