De Minaur nets shot at Open Payday to follow wildcard win
TENNIS NOW for next month’s Australian Open. That’s the objective for Alex De Minaur after the teenager secured a precious December goal by nailing a main draw berth with an Australian Open wildcard playoff victory.
Too steady for close friend Alex Bolt, De Minaur showcased impressive credentials with a resounding 6-2 6-1 6-7 (1-7) 6-1 triumph.
Ranked 208th, De Minaur would have been strongly considered for a discretionary wildcard had he bypassed the playoff but decided to control his own destiny.
And by blazing a trail into the January 15-28 Open, De Minaur is guaranteed a hefty prize cheque and the chance to further develop his career.
Supremely fit and determined to learn as much as possible from Davis Cup figureheads Lleyton Hewitt and Jason Stoltenberg, De Minaur will contest the Australian Open for the second time.
In January, he posted a stunning five-set win over Austrian Jurgen Melzer reach the second round.
Against Bolt, he was mostly in control against a mercurial opponent.
But, just as victory beckoned the first time, he was unable to convert three virtual match points as Bolt staved off break points in the 11th game of the third set.
Reprieved, Bolt steamed through the tiebreak before De Minaur regained control with a service break in the second game of the fourth set before leading 3-0. A second break for 4-0 catapulted the Spain-based tyro to an unassailable spot. to
De Minaur’s victory enabled the New South Welshman to emulate the wildcardwinning feats of Omar Jasika, James Duckworth and Jordan Thompson.
Meanwhile, Alicia Molik has hailed Destanee Aiava as the perfect candidate to bolster Australia’s women’s tennis renaissance after the teenager ruthlessly secured an Australian Open singles wildcard.
Aiava, 17, downed Tammi Patterson 6-4 6-0 to earn a main draw spot alongside Ash Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Sam Stosur and Jaimee Fourlis at Melbourne Park.
Fed Cup captain Molik believes Aiava’s progress will spike even further against topranked players.
“I see an immediate rise (in performance) when she’s pitted against higher-ranked opponents so, first things first, she needs to be around that environment more often,” Molik said.
“Destanee wins a lot of matches and a lot of free points with her serve.
“She’s somebody all of Australia should be excited about because I am.”