Australian Open tennis: Aussie tale of the headliner and the unheralded

Alex de Minaur and Storm Hunter are into the third round at the Australian Open. They’ve come from very different places.

Alex de Minaur sees off Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi at Melbourne Park on Wednesday. Picture: Getty Images

Tennis, anyone? The Australian Open is for everyone. The headliners, the unheralded.

You can have a scene-stealer like Alex de Minaur living up to his billing by motoring into the third round at Melbourne Park thanks to a scintillating performance on Wednesday against ­Italian Matteo Arnaldi.

In the same breath, at the same event, you can have a textbook Australian battler like Storm Hunter joining her ­illustrious compatriot by scraping past Germany’s Laura Siegemund. A win’s a win, whoever you are. And wherever you’re coming from.

De Minaur barely raised an eyebrow after his 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 triumph. There’s a headliner for you. Hunter cried in the post-match interview following her 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 triumph. There’s the unheralded. “She won?” de Minaur asked.

She did. “I can’t believe this,” she said.

The headliner and his unheralded mate teamed up for Australia at this month’s United Cup. He’s ranked No.10 in the world. She’s No.180. They’re coming from very different places but they’re side by side, arm in arm at the Open. They’re in the round of 32. “Nothing can give you more belief than winning matches,” de Minaur said.

Hunter has won five consecutive singles matches – three in the qualifying tournament and two in the main draw – to take Melbourne Park by you know what.

“Storm is in the third round of singles. Hopefully this gives her the belief to pursue the singles career a lot more,” de Minaur said of Hunter, the doubles specialist ranked No.1 in the world. “I thought it was unbelievable, the tennis she played throughout the whole United Cup. I told her I was so impressed with her level in the mixed doubles.

Storm Hunter defeats Germany’s Laura Siegemund. Picture: David Caird

“It’s a pretty amazing achievement, what she’s accomplished, considering the lack of preparation she was able to have going from United Cup straight into qualifying. That needs to definitely be mentioned and taken into account.”

Storm Hunter. One of the best names in sport. She might otherwise be a big-wave surfer. The hunted for her on Friday will be Czech Republic’s ex-French Open champion Barbora Krejcikova. De Minaur faces Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli. The headliner will be a raging favourite. The unheralded will be the underdog. Another upset, anyone?

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have imagined this and I’m just so grateful,” she said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d be standing here and being in the third round. It’s a dream come true. I got over the line because of the crowd. You guys were amazing, you really pulled me through. I’m going to cry now. My parents, from since I was young, always supported my dream. And my husband, we’ve been together for 10 years and he’s seen everything: me when I was injured, not playing, no ranking … this feels sweet because I’ve kind of done it the hard way.

“I saw the passionate fans come in. I feel like John Cain (Arena) gets the crowd that just wants to get behind the Aussies. They were chanting my name, which was awesome. I just kept trying to believe in myself and use that energy. Even my coach was yelling out, ‘Come on! You’re an Australian! You’re in Australia!”