Bring it on - de Minaur
ALEX de Minaur has declared he will be fit and ready to go for the start of his Australian Open campaign, despite a schedule in which he will play three matches in as many days.
De Minaur was critical of the grand slam’s organisers for refusing to push his openinground clash with Portugal’s Pedro Sousa back to tomorrow, with the pair to take to Margaret Court Arena this afternoon.
The 19-year-old was forced to spend more than 3½ hours on court on Saturday in Sydney on the way to his maiden ATP Tour title, after he played his semi-final and final on the same day due to earlier rain.
But spurred on by his straight-sets victory over Andreas Seppi in the final, de Minaur will not take a negative approach into today as he sets his sights on the biggest fortnight of his career.
“Once the time comes, I’ll be ready,” he said.
“I don’t want to think about it too much. I feel like the body is good. I’m mentally fresh.
“I just can’t wait to get back out on court, and especially at the Australian Open.
“There is no bigger stage. I’m really looking forward to just going out there and competing, firing up and hopefully play some good tennis.”
De Minaur flew to Melbourne soon after his Sydney win, landing early yesterday.
He will enter the tournament as one of the great local hopes and as Australia’s topranked male for the first time at a grand slam after going from No.208 to 30 in a year.
It means all eyes will be on de Minaur as part of a big first day at Melbourne Park, which also has Ash Barty starting her women’s campaign against Luksika Kumkhum, John Millman facing Feliciano Lopez and Bernard Tomic taking on No.6 seed Marin Cilic.
“I feel like I have dealt with the sort of nerves and pressure and expectation these coming weeks quite well, and I think it’s just something to get used to,” de Minaur said.
“You’ve got to keep doing the same things, and the most important thing is just keep listening to the team of guys around you, because they have your best interest at heart.
“Just keep wanting to improve day in, day out, and I’m a strong believer that if I keep doing those things, then I’ll get better as a person and as a player. With that, the results will come.”