Alex de Minaur superior to the second spherical of Australian Open 2024, after Milos Raonic retired with damage.
Melbourne, Australia, 15 January 2024 | Vivienne Christie
Large stage battles are a well-known place for Alex de Minaur. At age 24, the Australian is now a “veteran” of 26 Grand Slams: at Melbourne Park this summer time, he’s contesting his dwelling main for a seventh time.
But De Minaur additionally arrived at Australian Open 2024 in new territory. Following wins this 12 months over Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev, the Australian entered the world’s high 10 for the primary time.
Amid the jubilation of that new milestone got here the extreme focus of an expectant Australian public. And if that wasn’t intimidating sufficient for De Minaur, he additionally drew wily veteran Milos Raonic – a former Wimbledon finalist and Australian Open semifinalist – within the first spherical.
For one of the best a part of a set-and-a-half, the previous world No.3 introduced De Minaur with an almighty check. However because the Australian more and more challenged, so too did a hip damage for Raonic; after one hour and 55 minutes, the Canadian retired early within the third set.
De Minaur had edged forward 6-7(6) 6-3 2-0 when Raonic determined he couldn’t play on.
“It’s positively not the best way you wish to undergo to the subsequent spherical,” mentioned De Minaur, who felt the damage more and more factored after a good first set during which neither participant surrendered a break of serve.
“I began perhaps halfway by the second to note a bit of bit him dropping a little bit of velocity on his serve, finally making it a bit of bit simpler for me to sort of expose his motion, get again into the rallies.”
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Regardless of the abrupt ending, De Minaur had a number of essential takeaways from the match.
“It doesn’t matter what the scenario is, I’m going to remain calm and picked up,” he mentioned. “(It) doesn’t matter what place you’re in, keep calm and picked up. I’ll consider in myself to alter the scenario, any scenario.”
De Minaur required all that spirit in opposition to Raonic. The 33-year-old had been lacking from the tour for one of the best a part of two seasons, felled by a string of accidents that at instances had him questioning his will to return.
And but he nonetheless possessed a game-changing weapon in his huge serve. The Canadian fired it up fantastically early in opposition to De Minaur, with 9 of his 12 complete aces fired within the first set.
It was that firepower, greater than the scrutiny of his new top-10 rating, that was most intimidating for the Australian No.1.
“I feel the nerves come from enjoying an opponent like Milos as a result of it’s so unpredictable, so powerful to play him,” he associated.
“You’ve acquired no rhythm. In the end it appears like a lottery. You get to a tiebreak, and you’re feeling like each single level is so essential. That’s what creates in all probability the nerves and the tightness.
“I do consider I misplaced that first set attributable to that. Simply acquired tight within the huge moments. However it’s what it’s. It’s a five-set match. I instructed myself to recoup and begin once more for the second.”
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It’s with the identical level-headed outlook that De Minaur is managing the “hype” surrounding his new top-10 rating. “I haven’t modified the slightest. For me, I nonetheless get pleasure from each second I’m right here. It’s a blessing beginning the 12 months in Australia, enjoying in entrance of my dwelling followers,” he defined.
“I don’t actually affiliate enjoying in Australia as nerve-wracking or extra strain. The truth is, I affiliate it as simply pleasure. I stroll out and I’ve acquired an unbelievable crowd behind me, so I’m very lucky for that.”
De Minaur will subsequent draw on that vitality when he faces world No.41 Italian Matteo Arnaldi within the second spherical. The native star is focusing solely on that encounter, regardless of an early exit by No.18 seed Nicolas Jarry that means his part of the draw has opened up.
“I do not know about my draw. I don’t have a look at the draw. I don’t prefer it. I feel it’s a method of getting forward of your self. There’s no second like the current,” mentioned De Minaur when reminded of that truth.
“For me, the one factor I’m actually centered about is simply my next-round opponent, which is clearly Arnaldi, who’s a high quality Italian participant with plenty of firepower.
“I’m going to be prepared for that battle. No matter occurs occurs after that.”
> BUY NOW: Australian Open 2024 tickets
Aussies in motion – Australian Open
TODAY’S RESULTS
Males’s singles, first spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d Milos Raonic (CAN) 6-7(6) 6-3 2-0 ret.
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) d [WC] Marc Polmans (AUS) 6-3 7-6(3) 6-2
Jordan Thompson (AUS) d Aleksandar Vukic (AUS) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-2 3-6 6-4
[9] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) d [Q] Omar Jasika (AUS) 7-6(4) 6-4 6-2
[24] Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) d Rinky Hijikata (AUS) 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-7(2) 7-6(8)
Luca Van Assche (FRA) d [WC] James Duckworth (AUS) 6-7(2) 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-3
Girls’s singles, first spherical
[Q] Storm Hunter (AUS) d Sara Errani (ITA) 6-4 6-3
[19] Elina Svitolina (UKR) d [WC] Taylah Preston (AUS) 6-2 6-2
Magdalena Frech (POL) d [WC] Daria Saville (AUS) 6-7(5) 6-3 7-5
COMING UP
Males’s singles, first spherical
Max Purcell (AUS) v [Q] Mate Valkusz (HUN)
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) v Sebastian Ofner (AUT)
[WC] James McCabe (AUS) v Alex Michelsen (USA)
Males’s singles, second spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v Matteo Arnaldi (ITA)
Alexei Popyrin (AUS) v [1] Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Jordan Thompson (AUS) v [7] Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
Chris O’Connell (AUS) v [16] Ben Shelton (USA)
> VIEW: Australian Open 2024 males’s singles draw
Girls’s singles, first spherical
[WC] Kimberly Birrell (AUS) v [11] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT)
[WC] Olivia Gadecki (AUS) v Sloane Stephens (USA)
Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) v Petra Martic (CRO)
Girls’s singles, second spherical
[Q] Storm Hunter (AUS) v Laura Siegemund (GER)
> VIEW: Australian Open 2024 ladies’s singles draw
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