GIANT KILLER
I’m never taking that for granted.”
Nadal has already knocked out Australians James Duckworth and Matthew Ebden without dropping a set and said he wouldn’t be taking his younger opponent lightly.
“He’s a great player, young, playing with big confidence after winning matches. It will be a tough one,” the 31-year-old said.
De Minaur, who spent time growing up in Spain, said he recalled watching Nadal win his sole Australian Open title on television in 2009.
John McEnroe has paid de Minaur ANOTHER Australian teen sensation, Alexei Popyrin, is into the third round of the Australian Open after Dominic Thiem retired midway through the third set of their Melbourne Park clash.
The 19-year-old (pictured) was well on top before the Austrian seventh seed and 2018 French Open finalist called it quits while trailing 7-5, 6-4, 2-0 last night.
Thiem, who had a five-set first round win, called for the trainer midway through the second set, citing general fatigue. the ultimate compliment ahead of the teenager’s box-office Australian Open showdown with Nadal, declaring the 19-year-old a grand slam champion in the making.
McEnroe also ranked de Minaur alongside Nadal, Jimmy Connors, Michael Chang and Lleyton Hewitt as one of the most ferociously competitive players tennis has ever seen.
“There’s very few guys that come along that play with that intensity, that effort that Alex de Minaur plays with,” the former world No.1 told Channel Nine.