Alex de Minaur is focusing on developing relationships with his sponsors. GETTY IMAGES
At just 19, Alex de Minaur has been "thrust into the spotlight as Australia's golden boy of tennis," according to Alex Gluyas of the AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW. It is "easy to assume" he is receiving multi-million dollar sponsorship deals. For the self-proclaimed "chill guy," however, sponsorship is not about the money but rather a brand that "understands him" -- the simplicity of a teenager who still sees himself as a regular 19-year-old kid. De Minaur's manager, David Drysdale, said, "It's important for Alex to build relationships with his sponsor, he's not interested in a short-term money grab, it's more about developing a relationship with his sponsor, so we're pretty particular on who we go to." As it stands, de Minaur's clothing sponsor is with ASICS while his racquets are Wilson, but given his int'l schedule, he has "expanded his brand." In January, he signed with vitamin company Swisse and luxury watch manufacturer TAG Heuer in a "strategic move" to increase his int'l reach. Drysdale: "The difficult thing is Alex is only in Australia for around a month in a year, so by having TAG and Swisse as his sponsors, it gives him a more global brand" (AFR, 1/17).