Alex De Minaur Raring To Go For Us Open Tilt Despite Tricky Draw

2 weeks ago

In-form Alex de Minaur has brushed disconnected a minefield tie to state himself primed to lead Australia’s 15-strong complaint astatine nan US Open successful New York.

Having secured a precious top-eight seeding courtesy of his 10th profession title successful Washington and a last-eight tally successful Cincinnati, De Minaur is guaranteed to debar a higher-ranked rival until astatine slightest nan quarter-finals.

The upbeat tennis roadrunner is unfazed astir nan imaginable of imaginable first-week battles pinch his rivals Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hugo Gaston, who some clasp ascendant records complete Australia’s world No 8.

De Minaur is much focused connected getting past friend Chris O’Connell successful an enticing all-Aussie first-round tussle.

“I cognize Chris really well,” De Minaur said. “We really played successful nan [Australian Open] wildcard playoff, my first ever wildcard playoff erstwhile I was astir 16, 17, and he perfectly bullied maine connected nan court.

“He’s a awesome feline from Sydney. Amazing what he’s achieved, moreover recently, and I’m expecting a battle.

“I’m not expecting thing to beryllium easy. He’s a very tricky force because he’s sewage a batch of different weapons and has rather a unsocial playing style.”

De Minaur has arrived astatine Flushing Meadows successful a vastly much assured temper than past twelvemonth when, grossly underdone, he defied a hep wounded to resistance his battered assemblage each nan measurement to a 4th consecutive expansive slam quarter-final.

“Last twelvemonth location was a batch of uncertainty wherever I was moreover going to measurement connected court,” he said.

“I wasn’t really judge and it ended up being a beautiful surreal week. Now this twelvemonth I consciousness successful a really bully spot mentally, physically and fresh to get going. I’d overmuch alternatively beryllium a top-eight seed than conscionable outside. It’s decidedly a different mindset.”

Jannik Sinner acknowledges Alex de Minaur aft beating him successful nan 2025 Australian Open quarter-final.

Should he unrecorded up to his seeding, De Minaur is projected to onslaught world No 3 Alexander Zverev successful nan quarter-finals, pinch reigning champion Jannik Sinner apt awaiting successful nan semis.

Between them, Sinner and 2nd seed Carlos Alcaraz person won nan past 7 slams.

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“Ultimately correct now they are nan 2 players to beat, right? They’ve shown it,” De Minaur said.

“That’s nan situation for us. We’ve sewage to do our champion to emergence up to nan situation and return it.

“So, for me, it’s astir putting myself successful nan correct positions, giving myself those opportunities, those chances, and if I’m playing either Carlos aliases Jannik, it intends I’m successful a bully spot successful nan tournament.”

While De Minaur and O’Connell don’t conflict until Tuesday aliases Wednesday (AEST), 3 chap Australians characteristic connected a ray first-day schedule.

After a successful qualifying campaign, Destanee Aiava faces a reliable trial against Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini successful nan characteristic women’s nighttime lucifer connected Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Rinky Hijikata besides plays an Italian, 32nd seed Luciano Darderi, while Jordan Thompson is up against Frenchman Corentin Moutet.