Alex de Minaur to take on world No 3 Dominic Thiem in US Open quarter-finals

Alex de Minaur into the final eight of a grand slam for the first time — against one of the rising stars of the game

Alex de Minaur serves during his US Open men’s singles fourth round victory over Vasek Pospisil of Canada. Picture: Getty Images

Alex de Minaur will step on to one of the biggest stages in tennis on Thursday morning when he takes on Austrian world No 3 Dominic Thiem in the quarterfinals of the US Open — and he is absolutely confident it is where he belongs.

The 21-year-old Australian reached his first grand slam quarterfinal with a straight-sets win over Canadian Vasek Pospisil, 7-6 (6) 6-3 6-2.

“I was thinking to myself that I didn’t really deserve to be in that position right there. I thought I got a little bit unlucky to go down 6-2 in the tie-break because I didn’t think I played a bad tie-break,” he said.

2-6 ➡️ 8-6@alexdeminaur saves FOUR consecutive set points to take the first set breaker over Pospisil 😱 pic.twitter.com/fUyULXiqpy

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2020

“Mainly I just tried to stick and stay in the moment. I knew if I could jag that first point on his serve, then maybe I would have two points on my serve and hopefully he would feel the pressure a little bit.

“But I actually ended up playing some great tennis, putting some very good deep returns and starting to dictate. So I’m very happy I got that first set, and the momentum definitely changed after that.”

De Minaur will face a significant challenge against Thiem, who accounted for young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets 7-6 6-12 6-1.

The highest-ranked player remaining in the draw, Thiem defeated Rafael Nadal at this year’s Australian Open and took Novak Djokovic to five sets in the final.

However Thiem said de Minaur had significant weapons.

“(He is) definitely one of the fastest players on tour,” the Austrian said. “I think he is not only moving super fast, but (he is) also very accurate. That is what makes it even better, his movement.

“I’ve played him twice. (It is) kind of these two matches were before he really had his breakthrough.

“He has improved massively, especially in the last one-and-a-half, two years I would say. So I am looking forward to that one.”

De Minaur reached the last 16 in New York a year ago. While close to Grigor Dimitrov, he was unable to clinch key points when beaten in straight sets. But he has matured further through the season suspension and is clearly a stronger player again in 2020.

Like a man possessed. 😈

The Demon steamrolls his way into his first Grand Slam QF. pic.twitter.com/ZX8OqOwcxm

— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 7, 2020

“I’m obviously very happy,” he said. “At the end of the day, this is where I want to be, and this is where I truly believe I belong, second weeks of slams and going deep. I’m happy I’m finally at this stage.”

The Davis Cup leader was beaten in the opening round in the Cincinnati event relocated to New York last week by Jan Lennard-Struff. But he was able to clinch the doubles title with Pablo Carenno-Busta. And his belief has grown since.

“I didn’t have the highest confidence coming in with the week before, so it’s kind of just been building. I have just tried to gather some momentum. I ended up playing some good tennis against quality players,” he said.

“So hopefully I can just keep that going and use it to my advantage, I guess. Now I’m in the quarters of a slam for the first time, but nothing changes. Just gotta keep on going.”