Nadal in Demon’s sights

SIX months after being handed a grand slam lesson by Rafael Nadal, Aussie fighter Alex de Minaur is hoping to turn the tables on the Spanish great.

The 19-year-old Sydneysider dug deep to topple Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen in a five-set thriller to book a spot in the Australian Open third round for the first time.

His next challenge is tonight’s showdown with Nadal, who walloped de Minaur 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 in their maiden meeting at Wimbledon last year.

The match-up is the most anticipated between an Australian teenage challenger against an all-time great since Andy Murray denied Nick Kyrgios in the Melbourne Park quarterfinals four years ago.

And de Minaur is well aware of the enormity of the task confronting him.

“Whenever he steps out on court, he always has that presence. No one can take that away from him,” de Minaur said of the 17-time grand slam winner. “I’ve just got to go out there, try to focus on my side of the court, generally just go out there, have fun. Hopefully take it to him.”

Seeded 27 after cracking the world’s top 100 last June, de Minaur is riding a seven-match winning streak that included his first ATP title in Sydney.

While compatriots Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic have attracted negative headlines after Round 1 exits, de Minaur has garnered support with his fighting spirit.

“Every time I step out on court, I leave 150 per cent out there. That’s the bare minimum,” he said after battling to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (9-7), 4-6, 6-3 triumph over Laaksonen.

“You want the players in the locker room to know you as that kid that fights ’til the end, has that never-saydie attitude.”

De Minaur is still getting used to the spotlight that comes with being Australia’s top-ranked male player but says he keeps a low-key routine.

“I still go have an acai bowl in the morning. I do the same things a 19year-old kid would do.

“I’m very fortunate to be in the position that I am, to be able to play the sport that I love every single day.