Alex De Minaur grow vintage car collection, talks Fiat, Ferrari in Rome 🚗

ROME, Italy—"Don’t get me started on cars…” Alex de Minaur told Tennis Channel ahead of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.

Safe to say his motor is running regardless, the Aussie showing off a second Mini Cooper, kicking off a growing collection on Instagram earlier this week:

“They’re my little babies,” joked De Minaur, the No. 7 seed at the Foro Italico. “The Mini was the first car I got. I thought it was kind of iconic, and it was so much fun to drive. And then I just couldn’t help myself. I’m not sure I can stop at two, either. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

FLASHBACK:

De Minaur spends his free time checking for deals on the AutoScout24 app, but don’t expect him to drive out of Rome with a third vehicle at the end of the tournament.

"I would be very much in trouble financially if I booked a car here in Italy,” said De Minaur, who will open against the winner of an all-Italian first round between wild card Luca Nardi and Flavio Cobolli. “I like them way too much. I don’t even know how I’d take them home, but yes, I do look at cars wherever I am. Vintage, always.”

Playing in a country known for vintage cars, De Minaur does have a dream ride (or two) in mind.

“You can’t go wrong with any vintage Ferrari. I’ve already got a couple small Minis. I’m sure it’d look very nice to have a Fiat 500 next to it, a Cinquacento. That’s very Italian, I would say.”

Monday’s post drew plenty of likes from fans, but one in particular expressed mild concern over the Aussie’s self-described “obsession.”

“Sometimes I wonder if you’ll replace me also with a mini one day,” joked fiancée and fellow player Katie Boulter. Unseeded in the women’s draw, the Brit plays her first round against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Wednesday.

“Minis don’t make fun of me….” replied De Minaur, who promised to play mixed doubles with Boulter at this year’s US Open.

Fresh off a fourth round finish at the Mutua Madrid Open, De Minaur will have to shift back into gear for his first match in Rome later this week.