Fed’s ex-coach issues Demon warning
Respected coach Paul Annacone believes Alex de Minaur will be a test for any rival during the Australian summer.
A former coach of legends Roger Federer and Pete Sampras has declared Australian star Alex de Minaur will prove difficult to beat for any rival in Melbourne throughout February.
Paul Annacone, who counts Roger Federer and Pete Sampras among the major winners he has coached, is among those impressed by de Minaur’s blazing start to the season in Turkey.
The 21-year-old claimed the fourth ATP Tour title of his career in Antalya on Wednesday when Alexander Bublik retired while trailing early in the final due to an ankle injury he carried into the match.
De Minaur dropped only one set for the week in Turkey - in a semifinal against world No 14 David Goffin.
“For de Minaur, what a way to start the year,” Annacone told The Tennis Channel.
“Watch this guy. He loves Australia. He is going to be one to beat in the next month down under.”
The 😈 with his ðŸ†
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 13, 2021
(via @alexdeminaur) #AntalyaOpen pic.twitter.com/filaECO4xI
It was de Minaur’s first ATP Tour title since the three he claimed in 2019 in Sydney, Atlanta and Zhuhai.
In an injury-interrupted and abridged 2020 season, he reached a final in Antwerp in October, which followed a run to the US Open quarterfinals in September.
The Australian pocketed almost $44,000 for his triumph in Turkey, though his ranking remained at 23 given he had points to defend from his strong performance in the ATP Cup in 2020.
Darren Cahill, who has coached world number ones Lleyton Hewitt, Andre Agassi and Simona Halep, said the right-hander appeared to have added muscle to his arms and legs in the off-season.
This has been a goal of de Minaur, who has split his life between Australia and Spain, since he emerged as a serious tour player as a teenager.
He is arguably the quickest player on the tour with his court coverage and is blessed with sharp reflexes that allow him to return most serves inside the baseline.
But he has acknowledged that he must gain more free points on his serve and add power to his groundstrokes.
De Minaur, who trained through the off-season in Alicante while spending time with his mother and siblings, said he felt in good shape ahead of his arrival in Australia.
“I knew I’d put in a good pre-season. I felt good and ready to compete. I gave myself the best possible chance to go deep in this tournament,” he said.
“I have got matches at the start of the year. I am very happy with my level. I got some quality wins and now I’m looking forward to returning to Australia, where I hope to have a good Aussie summer in front of a home crowd.”
The nation’s top-ranked man is hoping for better fortune in February after an abdominal injury denied him the chance to play in either the Adelaide International or Australian Open in 2020.
He also suffered osteitis pubis early in the 2019 season and will be hoping that his body holds together with greater physical maturity.
After leading Australia to the semi-finals of the inaugural ATP Cup last year in ties played in Brisbane and Sydney, de Minaur will again spearhead the team this year.
After completing quarantine, the Australian will combine with John Millman, John Peers and Luke Saville in the 12 nation event held at Melbourne Park.
The withdrawals of Roger Federer and Cristian Garin from the Australian Open due to injury means de Minaur will be on the cusp of a top 20 seeding for the tournament.
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