Alex de Minaur wins first match since US Open, putting Davis Cup back on the agenda

A big end to 2024 could still be on the agenda for Alex de Minaur after playing his first match since the US Open.

Alex de Minaur could yet be a late addition to Australia’s squad for November’s Davis Cup finals in Spain after making a winning comeback in Antwerp.

Playing his first match since the US Open quarter-finals, having battled through a hip injury in the tournament, de Minaur outlasted Roberto Carballes Baena 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to book his spot in the last eight at the European Open.

The world No.10 was left out of Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt’s original squad for the finals with an eye to trying to get himself in the best possible shape for January’s Australian Open.

But having made a playing return, de Minaur could also push to qualify for the season-ending ATP finals in Italy that will follow the Davis Cup.

“It’s never easy coming back from injury, so I am happy I was able to win today,” said de Minaur, who has been nursing a hip injury that forced him out of the Asian swing.

“It took a lot of fight and effort, so I’m happy to get a first win here in Antwerp.

What a way to finish 🔥@alexdeminaur takes out Roberto Carballés Baena 2-6 6-4 6-2 at the #EuropeanOpenpic.twitter.com/xpQ3CTQnhS

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 16, 2024

“The match is never over until the last point, that’s what I always tell myself. I’m always going to compete until the very end and it’s helped me win a lot of matches, so I better keep doing it.”

At last week’s Australian Open launch, Hewitt said de Minaur’s fitness was a “work in progress” and he needed to “weigh up the priorities” as his body continues to rebuild from the injury.

“I’m speaking to him every second day, and it’s certainly been a very frustrating time for him,” he said.

“He’s had some small niggles in the past that I guess he could better understand what he needed to do to get over it, to get back to 100 per cent as quickly as possible.

“This one has been a different case, and mentally it’s been more frustrating.

“As everyone saw, the effort that he put in in New York, for him on one leg, basically, to go out and make a quarter-final was pretty exceptional, and he’s still given himself a chance of being in the Turin (ATP) finals by doing that as well.

“So he’s got to weigh up the priorities now as well.”

The Davis Cup finals begin on November 19.