Australian Open: Alex de Minaur’s time is now to make a grand slam

Alex de Minaur loves this time of year. The time to chase an Australian Open. The time to compete inside a packed Rod Laver Arena.

Australian Alex de Minaur trains ahead of his first-round clash with Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp on Tuesday night. Picture: Mark Stewart

Alex de Minaur loves this time of year. The time to chase an Australian Open. The time to compete inside a packed Rod Laver Arena.

The time to try to be the first Australian male to win the Open since Mark Edmondson twirled his moustache and beat John Newcombe in 1976.

The time to try to be Australia’s first finalist since Lleyton ­Hewitt in 2005.

The time to play dangerous Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in his opening match at 7pm on Tuesday night.

Prime time.

“Go time,” he says.

De Minaur has catapulted to the world No. 8 ranking and yet he’s been completely overshadowed at the Open by the unranked, unfiltered and unleashed Nick Kyrgios, and the doping scandal surrounding Italy’s defending champion Jannik Sinner.

The hype has been minimal but the invisibility cloak will be removed and the support will build to a crescendo if he reaches the second week.

“It’s amazing to be back home, right?” he says before taking on the player who knocked Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz out of last year’s US Open and who beat Spanish legend Rafael Nadal in his final match.

“As Australian tennis players, we spend the majority of the year overseas. To get the chance and opportunity to start the year here at home in the summer, it just means the world for us. Every time I’m stepping out there, I know the crowd is excited for some tennis and they’re ready to get the year started.

“As tennis players, as Aussie tennis players, we want to do everything we can to play our best. It’s no secret that this being my home slam, there’s always going to be a few more eyeballs.”

Good times for Australian players on Monday.

Ajla Tomljanovic took her time but had a three-set win over American Ashlyn Krueger.

Jordan Thompson had a fine old time and beat Germany’s Dominik Koepfer.

Qualifier Talia Gibson had the time of her life and downed Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez for her first win at a slam.

Veteran James Duckworth turned back time to oust Switzerland’s Dominic Stricker.

James McCabe got up and so did Tristan Schoolkate, who moved into the big time – a ­second-round clash with Sinner.

Italy’s defending champ is having an anxious time. He will face the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April after twice failing doping tests last year. He admitted to being nervous about receiving a hard time from the crowd on RLA. He got a warm welcome before beating Chile’s Nicolas Jarry 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1.

“Yeah, I was curious to see how it was,” he said. “You never know what’s happening. I was happy about the crowd, it was a very nice crowd. There were some people supporting my opponent and some for me. It was a nice atmosphere. I was just looking forward to getting on the court because this is what I practise for. It’s nice to be back here … it’s a very special place for me … it’s a nice place to play some tennis … I’m trying to compete in the best possible way. So many things have happened on this court. Beautiful things.”