‘Fearless’: Rod Laver tips ‘the Demon’ to end Australian Open hoodoo

Australian tennis legend Rod Laver believes the nation’s best chance at this year’s Australian Open can go all the way and end a 49-year green and gold sporting curse.

Australia’s greatest male tennis player believes the nation’s best chance at this year’s Australian Open has what it takes to finally end a 49-year green and gold sporting curse. Tennis legend Rod Laver told the Herald Sun Alex de Minaur was primed to become the first Aussie man since 1976 to win the Australian Open on home soil.

“Alex continues to live up to his potential and make the most of his considerable talents,’’ he said.

“He has worked extremely hard.

“He’s so fast and relentless, and he’s pretty fearless.’’

While a long list of Aussie men have tried and failed to win the singles titles last claimed by Mark Edmondson at a time the tournament was played at Kooyong and Malcolm Fraser was PM, Laver said de Minaur had the tools to get the job done.

“I think with the Aussie crowd behind him, and the growth he has had in the past 12 months, he could definitely go all the way,’’ he said.

Alex de Minaur. Picture: Getty Images

Laver will not sit on the centre court named in his honour this year, with the 86-year-old opting not to travel to Melbourne from his home in the US. for the first time in more than 10 years.

“I was very disappointed to miss this year’s event,’’ he said.

“It’s always a highlight of my year coming out to Melbourne, but I am watching it all unfold on the TV and enjoying it very much from afar.’’

Laver’s decision not to travel to Melbourne for the AO for the first time in years had sparked fears he could be in poor health but sources close to him said ‘’he’s fine’’.

Rod Laver says he’s ‘very disappointed’ to miss this year’s event. Picture: AAP

While Laver will be absent at Melbourne Park, fellow Aussie legend Margaret Court is expected to attend the major event.

Hall of Famer Laver won the Australian Open three times in a stunning career that yielded 11 major singles titles.

He twice won the “Grand Slam” of all four majors in a single season.

And he said he had seen enough of World No. 8 de Minaur to be convinced the Sydney born star had a genuine shot at the title.

Rod Laver says de Minaur’s ‘biggest assets are his attitude, speed and resilience’. Picture: AFP

“Alex’s biggest assets are his attitude, speed and resilience,’’ he said.

“He looks stronger too and his serve is more of a weapon these days.

“He will never give up.

“He has a strong team around him and he’s extremely popular, so he’s always going to be a crowd favourite and he draws on that energy.’’

Laver said “the one big obstacle’’ in de Minaur’s way was defending champion Jannik Sinner, “who he has to find a way to overcome’’ after losing all nine previous matches against the World No.1.

Rod Laver says Novak Djokovic looms as a potential party pooper.

“But this is a grand slam and all sorts of things can happen along the way,’’ he said.

Sinner, who has courted controversy for defending his title while under a doping cloud and pending Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing, could meet de Minaur in a quarterfinal.

Laver said Spanish star Carlos Alcaraz and 10-time AO winner Novak Djokovic also loomed as potential party poopers.

“Novak Djokovic is a massive threat,’’ Laver said.

“You can’t count him out, but he has a difficult draw and others are catching up.’’

De Minaur will play US qualifier and World No. 136 Tristan Boyer on Thursday.

Originally published as ‘Fearless’: Rod Laver tips ‘the Demon’ to end Australian Open hoodoo