Alex de Minaur has healthy handle on great expectations
Teenager Alex de Minaur says he has come to grips with the extra expectations on him this summer as he counts down to his first Australian Open since he stormed into the top 40.
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Teenager Alex de Minaur says he has come to grips with the extra expectations on him this summer as he counts down to his first Australian Open since he stormed into the top 40.
A straight-sets quarter-final loss to French magician Jo-Wilfried Tsonga means de Minaur, 19, will have one of the 32 seedings for the Australian Open next week even though he went one round fewer at the Brisbane International than in 2018.
The top-ranked Australian is fifth seed at the Sydney International, which starts today, and plays Serbian Dusan Lajovic, ranked No.48, in the first round.
“I have a lot of expectations this year and I thought I handled it really well,’’ world No.31 de Minaur said.
“It’s a completely different scenario for me this year coming in (than 12 months ago when ranked No.208).
“It’s not the result I wanted, but I’m continuously learning. It’s something that is never going to change for me - I’m young and I have to work on a lot of aspects of my game.
“Technically my second year on tour, I’ve learned what I need to do with the body and my preparation for matches. I feel like I’m being professional and making my opponents know they have to play a great match to get through me.’’
De Minaur’s Davis Cup teammate John Millman drew American Hopman Cup player Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the Sydney International.
De Minaur’s 2018 run started with an upset of 2016 Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic at Pat Rafter Arena and the big Canadian noted how he conducts himself differently to older countrymen Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic.
“He’s a little bit different in personality to the players you have had in recent years and it will also draw him some positive attention,’’ Raonic said.
“He will always enjoy playing in Australia.
“He’s come along quite far. There are very few players not only of his age who have that kind of discipline and work ethic.
“He finished the year in the top 40 and it’s an incredible thing at his age.’’
Tsonga, a former world No.5, is playing in Brisbane only his sixth tournament since returning from a seven-month recovery from knee surgery.
His quality at 33 was plain to see, especially in a scintillating second-set tie-break in which the Frenchman disarmed de Minaur of his great weapon, his mobility, with his placement and precision.
It’s no dishonour to lose to Tsonga when he is playing with such welcome athleticism.
“All credit to him that he played big and aggressive and really dictated with his forehand. I tried to find his backhand but he’s definitely playing well.’’
De Minaur had boxer Jeff Horn as his guest at the Brisbane quarter-final said he enjoyed talking to Horn before the match about his training camps.
“I’m grateful Jeff came to watch,’’ he said.
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