Alex de Minaur has sent an emphatic message to the tennis world that he is a dark horse when the Australian Open begins in a fortnight�s time, the hometown hero crushing American world No.10 Taylor Fritz to keep Team...
Alex de Minaur has sent an emphatic message to the tennis world that he is a dark horse when the Australian Open begins in a fortnight�s time, the hometown hero crushing American world No.10 Taylor Fritz to keep Team Australia�s hopes alive at the United Cup.
De Minaur, whose previous match at the tournament was a tough three-set loss to Briton Cameron Norrie, produced one of his most spectacular performances to leave the US Open quarter-finalist struggling for answers.
The 24-year old, ranked 12th in the world but without a grand slam quarter-final appearance since 2020, was too fast for the American�s power game, his trademark run and gun approach and superb court coverage breaking Fritz�s serve repeatedly � as well as his own shoelaces.
�He�s genuinely unbeatable,� Fritz complained to his team after de Minaur broke after a spectacular point for a 5-2 lead in the second set.
Only near the end did the Australian waver, giving Fritz his first break points for the match with a series of nervy shots and double-faulting on match point; but de Minaur would eventually secure the victory at the third time of asking.
�I�m not sure I�ve seen him play better than this,� Roger Rasheed said on Stan Sport.
Speed DEMON ????
@alexdeminaur | #UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/bAVUkTId2u
The win leaves Australia needing to win the women�s singles and mixed doubles ties to take top spot in their group and automatically progress to the quarter-finals; win one of those, and the calculators will need to come out.
MORE TO COME
