Young gun rockets to final
Teen’s dream run continues, boosted by adoring home crowd
BEFORE each game, Alex De Minaur revs himself up by listening to rapper Post Malone’s Rockstar.
If the teen sensation claims his maiden ATP title in the Sydney International today, he will stroll into the Australian Open feeling like a rock star, with support to match.
De Minaur set up a decider against world No.84 Daniil Medvedev at Ken Rosewall Arena by coming from a set down to win his semi-final against Benoit Paire 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. The 18-year-old displayed encouraging poise to completely dominate from the second set.
It took just one break for world No.42 Paire to claim the first set. But De Minaur stormed back in the second, blitzing Paire all over the court to take it in just 24 minutes.
He then broke Paire’s serve in the first game of the third set, and after six deuces managed to hold his own serve to take a 2-0 lead, a vital game in the match. He was ruthless thereafter, despite Paire’s best attempts to break his serve on several deuce points.
De Minaur has defeated Fernando Verdasco, Damir Dzumhur, Feliciano Lopez and Paire this week to belie his No.167 world ranking.
While he lives in Spain, Sydney-born De Minaur will have the entire crowd behind him as he attempts to win his first tour title at Sydney Olympic Park.
Medvedev, the 21-year-old Russian, upset Fabio Fognini 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in his semi-final, and recalled playing De Min- aur during a sponsor’s camp years ago.
“I don’t know so much about him, but I saw him play in some tournaments and I knew already he’s gonna be a great player. And he’s becoming good now. I wish him all the best. It’s nice to see some young guys coming up.”
Medvedev also showed incredible resolve in his match, rallying from 6-2, 3-1 down.
Meanwhile Australian Matt Ebden lost the final of the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne to world No.10 Pablo Carreno Busta, going down 7-6 (6), 4-6, 2-6 in difficult conditions.
Ebden, who on Wednesday dismissed sixth-ranked Marin Cilic, broke Busta’s serve early in the second set and saved three match points in the final game. Later he said he “should have won in straight sets”.