‘I’ll find a way’: Alex de Minaur wins into quarter-finals at injury cost

Alex de Minaur has reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final and downplayed an injury that gave him a fright at the end against French showman Arthur Fils.

Australia's Alex de Minaur after winning a point against France's Arthur Fils during their men's singles fourth round tennis match on the eighth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships. De Minaur won 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP

Alex de Minaur has reached his first Wimbledon quarter-final and downplayed the injury that gave him a fright at the end of his victory over French showman Arthur Fils.

The Australian didn’t celebrate his four-set triumph (6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3) and looked like he’d seen a ghost after hurting his hip but later claimed the issue was no major concern.

“Just slid out to a forehand on my first match point and felt like I jarred my hip a little bit,” de Minaur said later.

“Was a little bit ginger. It’s probably a little bit of a scare more than anything. The situation was tight.

“In a way it helped me relax and finish off the match. I’m feeling pretty decent. The body went through a pretty physical match. Body feels a little bit ginger everywhere. I’m not going to lie,” he said.

Alex de Minaur of Australia after his victory at Wimbledon in London. Picture: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

“But I’ve done my recovery and I’m sure I’ll be feeling great tomorrow. I’ll be right. I’ll find a way.”

The ninth-seeded de Minaur will face 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic in the last eight. Djokovic defeated Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

Alex de Minaur of Australia slides to play a forehand against Arthur Fils. Picture: Getty Images

Arthur Fils returns against Alex de Minaur. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP

Alex de Minaur of Australia plays a backhand against Arthur Fils. Picture: Getty Images

Arthur Fils fails to reach a ball to return. Picture: AFP

Alex de Minaur reacts after winning. Picture: AFP

De Minaur has become a darling of the British fans because he’s the boyfriend of English player Katie Boulter.

They swoon as if they’re thinking oh, isn’t he lovely, we approve.

Asked by a London reporter if he would fly the flag for the Brits at The Championships, de Minaur replied: “Oh, 100 per cent. I’ll take all the support I can get. I can be the honorary Brit here at Wimbledon.

Katie Boulter and Alex de Minaur attend the red carpet at the 2024 Laureus World Sport Awards in Madrid, Spain.

“I do feel very loved out there, I must say. I love coming here to Wimbledon. I always feel like I play some of my best tennis. Over the years I feel like the support I’ve had has grown significantly.

“It’s a great feeling as a player to know you’ve got a lot of people in the stadium backing you in, having your back when essentially you’re so far away from home.”

Other fourth-round winners on Monday were Jelena Ostapenko, Elena Rybakina, Elina Svitolina, Barbora Krejcikova, Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti.

Britain's Katie Boulter watches as Alex de Minaur returns against Arthur Fils. Picture: Glyn Kirk/AFP