Australian Open 2023: Alex de Minaur cruises into final 16 but big challenge awaits in next round
Australia’s Alex de Minaur, minus the cursing and minus the tantrums, is through to the round of 16 but can he keep his cool against arguably the biggest challenge in tennis?
Alex de Minaur is proof you don’t have to behave like a jerk to win at tennis.
One of the nicest guys in the sport, de Minaur has become the breath of fresh air this year’s Australian Open desperately needed.
Not only has he kept the Aussie flag flying by safely advancing to the round of 16 after crushing Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6 6-2 6-1 on Saturday, but he’s managed it without acting like a prima donna.
A throwback to the golden era of Australian tennis when the best players would win without throwing tantrums or smashing their racquets or cursing the umpires or fighting with the crowd, de Minaur follows a simpler philosophy.
On one side of his personal carry bag, he has written “Don’t Worry”.
And on the other side, he has “Be Happy.”
That’s the title of American jazz artist Bobby McFerrin’s hit tune from the late 1980s and de Minaur is singing from the same hymn sheet.
“I’m extremely happy,” he said.
“Happy to be able to do it in back-to-back years, and giving myself another chance and opportunity to go deep in my home slam, which is ultimately what I want to be doing.”
De Minaur’s laid back approach has made him an instant hit with the Melbourne Park fans and he’s one player the whole of Australia can get behind.
And you can bet the country will because his next opponent is Novak Djokovic.
The nine-time champion beat Grigor Dimitrov to join de Minaur in the fourth round and the moody Serbian can expect to confront a hostile centre court.
“It‘s no secret that I love playing here in my backyard. I think the Aussie crowd is amazing. They’ve had my back from day dot,” de Minaur said.
“I think the difference is that the opponents not only have to play against me but they‘ve got to play against me and the whole crowd. Right?”
The only seeded Australian player in the tournament, de Minaur rarely gets the credit or attention he deserves because he just goes about his work without any fuss or fanfare.
Although he squandered an early lead against Bonzi, de Minaur fought back to win the opening set tie-breaker then dominated the rest of the match without looking like he even broke sweat on a glorious sunny afternoon at the Rod Laver Arena.
His cool demeanour is one of hidden strengths though because while he’s well mannered on court, he’s still a fierce competitor who has Lleyton Hewitt in his corner sharing his wisdom in dealing with pressure-cooker moments.
De Minaur has already beaten Rafa Nadal in a warm up event in Sydney this month and has now made it through to the fourth round of the Australian Open for the second year in a row.
Perhaps more importantly, with fatigue set to play a big part in the second week, he has only dropped one set in his three matches so far so has plenty left in the tank for the bigger challenges ahead.
“These are the matches you want to be playing. You don‘t want a walkover into the final of a slam,” de Minaur said.
“You want to be playing the best in the world. That‘s what I’ve got.
“I‘m gonna probably have the best in the world in front of me, and I’m ready for the battle. I want to take it to them and show what I’m made of, you know, in the biggest of stages and just test myself out there and really take it to them.”
The amazing story of how Aussie mates met
- Lauren Wood
The son of a Uruguayan and a Spaniard became a neighbour to the son of Russian immigrants in Alicante, Spain.
On Saturday, the pair will be the firm focus of Australian hopes at Melbourne Park and will share top billing as they bid for a fourth-round berth of their home slam.
Close friends, Alex de Minaur and Alexei Popyrin’s journey has been shared for plenty of the way, neighbours at 10 years old and both star junior players brimming with promise.
Nabbed early by Australian tennis, the pair bleed green and gold and – in the absence of crowd-revving king Nick Kyrgios – have local crowds eating from the palm of their hands.
“Come on,” De Minaur screamed at the raucous John Cain Arena faithful on Thursday, Popyrin having waved his arms in encouragement of the masses.
Super Saturday at Melbourne Park sees de Minaur face Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, while wildcard Popyrin meets American Ben Shelton, and – as his good mate sees it – is “very dangerous”.
“I’ve grown up with him. I’ve played Davis Cup with him,” de Minaur said of Popyrin.
“He probably didn’t have the year he wanted last year, but the potential he’s got is being shown right now. Just this Aussie summer, he’s had … now two top-10 wins. He’s a big guy with a big game, and he’s very dangerous.
“He’s one of those guys that I’m sure no one really wants him on the other side of the court.
“It’s amazing to see Aussies do great. It makes me very proud.
“It makes me very proud and very excited because ultimately that’s going to be us and hopefully flying the flag, doing Australia proud, whether it’s in Olympics, team competitions, Davis Cup. I think that’s exciting.”
Popyrin riled the crowd to get behind “my boy Demon”, and knows it is “important to back up my word” following his declarations that he is continuing his giant-killing capabilities.
And after all the pain of a gruelling 2022 campaign, the 23-year-old — who was in tears after defeating eighth seed Taylor Fritz on Thursday — is drinking in the support in his corner from not only his countrymen but Australian Open crowds.
“Just to have the crowd chanting your name, playing a match like that, winning against a player like Taylor, for me it was really, really big — really emotional,” Popyrin said.
“Especially after the year I had last year. I think everybody knows the year I had last year. I won as many matches this month as I had on the tour last year.
“For me it was really emotional coming through that match … I’ll never forget it.”
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