Australian Open 2021: Alex De Minaur cruises into second round after straight sets win

One of the most vocal critics of the Victorian hotel quarantine process will be on the next flight out of Melbourne. But he didn’t go quietly.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 09: Alex De Minaur of Australia celebrates after winning match point in his Men's Singles first round match against Tennys Sandgren of the United States during day two of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Quarantine sook Tennys Sandgren’s Australian holiday is over – sent packing in embarrassing fashion by a ruthless Alex de Minaur.

The Australian men’s No. 1 put the outspoken Sandgren on the next flight out of Melbourne with a brutal straight sets victory that broke his spirit at the end of a difficult month in Australia.

Sandgren was the most vocal critic of Tennis Australia and the Victorian hotel quarantine process, posting regular Instagram updates to voice his displeasure at being forced into a 14-day hard lockdown.

Alex De Minaur wasn’t distracted by his opponent’s histrionics.

It’s hard to gauge just how much that two-week period has taken out of those subjected to it, but on Tuesday Sandgren looked like a shadow of the player who has twice made the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.

Four-time grand slam champion Jim Courier accused the tennis bad boy of ‘checking out’ mid-match – and Australia’s top-ranked male didn’t miss the chance to bury him, sending him packing in straight sets and losing just two games as Sandgren waved the white flag in the second and third sets.

When a tricky 55-minute opening set went de Minaur’s way, Sandgren’s demeanour immediately changed.

He was issued a code violation for ball abuse, which triggered a stream of chatter with chair umpire Louise Azemar Engzell which trailed into the second set.

But that by point the controversial American less interested in hitting winners, and more focused on his running battle with officials.

The Aussie was untroubled after a tough first set.

A 26-minute second set broke Sandgren completely.

“Tennys Sandgren looks like he’s gone ahead and checked out, and is probably ready to check in for a flight tomorrow by the looks of things,” Courier said in commentary as De Minaur picked up a break to start the third set.

Sandgren didn’t hide his feelings when asked about his preparations after the match.

“How would you imagine prepping for a hot kind of muggy day, three-out-of-five sets against a player like that, that calibre, when you can’t play tennis? You can’t go outside? You can’t. It’s impossible. It’s impossible,” he said.

“So I played last week’s event, which probably wasn’t a good idea. It wasn’t hot, it was very mild conditions, and I played two hard three-set matches and I’ve never been more sore in my life after the second round.

“I took two days off because I couldn’t walk, and then I hit a couple times before today. I mean, it’s just kind of a joke of preparation. But yeah. What are you going to do?”

Sandgren was a vocal critic of the hotel quarantine, along with Frenchman Benoit Paire who labelled the tournament a joke after his first round exit.

Asked if he agreed with Paire’s comments, Sandgren said:

“I don’t know if the whole tournament is a joke. The tournament from my perspective might be.

Tennys Sandgren took one final swipe at Open organisers. Picture: Getty Images

“I’ve never walked on to a court in a Grand Slam knowing that I’m probably not going to be able to win. I’m physically not in shape enough to play with my opponent.

“I mean, my five-set record is pretty good when I get to a fifth set, I’m in great shape. And today I’m tired after an hour and 10 minutes.

“Like that to me is — and it’s a bit out of my control, and there’s 75 other players in the men’s and women’s field that are in the same boat. It’s a hefty number of people, and very good players.

“I don’t know, I wouldn’t say the whole tournament is a joke, but for some players it’s not feasible. It’s just not feasible.”

The only moment to raise a smile from the American came when he drilled a forehand into de Minaur’s body – prompting a giggle, and a belated apology.

De Minaur remained unfazed, securing his first Australian Open victory since his run to the third round in 2019 – having missed last year’s tournament with an abdominal injury.

“Extremely happy to be back here. I genuinely missed you guys, and it feels good to be back on playing here,” he said.

Tennys Sandgren fell apart after the first set.

“I think I was able to get through the first set nerves and loosen up and play some of my best tennis.

“It’s a bit of a chess match out there, you’re trying to see what your opponent is doing or feeling. I was trying to apply pressure out there.”

The 21st seed will now face 35-year-old Argentine Pablo Cuevas on Thursday.