Alex de Minaur snaps 20-year Aussie drought with ‘incredible’ feat

Alex de Minaur has pulled out of an ATP Tour event after learning he will end an Australian drought that has stood since Lleyton Hewitt.

Alex de Minaur has pulled out of an ATP Tour event in Belgrade after learning he will end Australia’s 20-year wait for a player to compete in the ATP Tour Finals.

The “Demon” was pumped up in sharing his delight with fans on social media, writing “LFG” as his qualification was confirmed following Novak Djokovic’s announcement that he will not contest the season-ending event.

Watch every ball of Australia v Pakistan ODI Series LIVE & exclusive to FOX CRICKET, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

The 25-year-old will contest the annual showdown between the world’s best eight players when it begins on Sunday in Turin, Italy. He will be the first Australian to qualify for the elite tournament since Lleyton Hewitt reached the final in 2004.

Djokovic said on Wednesday morning (AEDT) he will not defend his ATP Finals title due to an “ongoing injury” which has ended the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s season.

Djokovic, de Minaur, Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev had all been fighting for the final three spots in the Tour Finals.

Alex De Minaur has done it. Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images.

De Minaur pulled out of the Belgrade Open as a result in order to give his body some time to recover before the showdown at the Inalpi Arena.

De Minaur’s win over Jack Draper at the Paris Masters had already given the Aussie one foot through the door into the tour finals.

The draw for the tour finals will be held on Thursday night.

For the first time in 23 years, there will be no member of tennis’ Big Three — Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer — competing in the tour finals.

“I was really looking forward to being there, but due to ongoing injury I won’t be playing next week,” Djokovic said.

Australia's Alex De Minaur at the Paris Masters. Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP.

“Apologies to those who were planning to see me. Wishing all the players a great tournament. See you soon!”

The 37-year-old Serb, currently ranked fifth in the world, sits sixth in “The Race”, the ATP’s annual rankings to determine the eight competitors at the Finals.

Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev and Taylor Fritz had already qualified before Djokovic’s announcement.

Djokovic’s withdrawal was not a surprise as he had already pulled out of the Paris Masters, effectively ending what has been a difficult season.

He hasn’t won a single ATP title in 2024, the first time that has happened since 2006, and has been shoved aside by young stars Sinner and Alcaraz at the top of the game.

Djokovic did, however, win singles gold at the Paris Olympics, adding the final major honour which was missing from his record-breaking list of career achievements.

— with AFP

Originally published as Alex de Minaur snaps 20-year Aussie drought with ‘incredible’ feat