The mood of hopefulness at Melbourne Park turned into worry when Andrey Rublev switched on his strong performance towards the end of his round of 16 win against Alex De Minaur.
The Australian player was the first local male participant in the top 10 of the tournament since Lleyton Hewitt almost 20 years ago. After winning three significant matches leading up to the tournament, the 24-year-old had the greatest opportunity of winning the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup in recent history.
De Minaur was Luke Skywalker in his X-wing, the leader of a rag-tag, 15-strong fleet of local players desperate to find a way to dismantle the Death Star of Australian tennis: the 48-year-old drought for local men at their home grand slam.
The gathered group of players was the biggest since 1998. Despite the fact that most of them were ranked closer to 100 than one, there was optimism that the large number of players would lead to at least one Australian making it far into the second week.
However, De Minaur’s streak was brought to a halt by Rublev’s powerful forehand after an intense four hours and 14 minutes, and he had no more chances.
Despite defeating top-ranked player Novak Djokovic prior to this match, De Minaur’s loss to Rublev raised doubts about his potential as a grand slam competitor. The match showcased De Minaur’s strong defensive skills, but ultimately, he was outmatched by Rublev’s exceptional weapons.
De Minaur is known for doing it the hard way. One of the tour’s best at staying in the point, he has the mobility and court craft to push opponents deep into their bag.
However, the prevailing sentiment is that he lacks the innate talent and abilities of players such as Nick Kyrgios or even Alexei Popyrin, who showcased his powerful forehand and aggressive style with 17 aces against Djokovic in the second round.
De Minaur is dedicated to his winning formula.
“I believe I handled the situation well up until a certain point,” he stated. “Life continues, I am aware of the areas we need to improve and, as I have throughout my entire career, I will strive to get better.”
Some Australians view the glass as being half empty. They may question the future of Australian tennis and wonder who will follow in the footsteps of legends like Pat Rafter, Pat Cash, Rod Laver, and Ash Barty.
However, those who closely observed the Australians during this tournament may have a different perspective.
These male athletes may have some restrictions. When compared to legends such as Laver, Rosewall, or Newcombe, they could possibly be considered as average professionals, enduring the demanding schedule of the tour.
However, each one possesses a unique narrative, manner, and susceptibility that is quite charming.
Max Purcell, a player known for his brief and effective serve and net game, recently pushed 11th seed Casper Ruud to a five-set match in the second round. Despite his tendency to speak frankly, Purcell acknowledges the importance of holding back at times, while maintaining his harsh critiques of coffee.
Jordan Thompson, who is Or’s doubles partner, nearly went up two sets to love against Stefanos Tsitsipas in the round of 64 match due to his fondness for rushing the net. However, he ultimately lost at that stage for the fourth time.
Although entertainer Thanasi Kokkinakis put on an exciting show for fans in John Cain Arena against 13th seed Grigor Dimitrov, he unfortunately couldn’t secure the victory. This marks the fifth time he has been eliminated in the second round.
Jason Kubler and Rinky Hijikata, who were the unexpected doubles champions last year, both suffered devastating losses in the first round.
Everyone in this group of athletes motivates and encourages each other equally, creating a community that is becoming more and more common among those ranked in the top 100.
Although there may be a smaller number of Australians in the top ranks of women’s competitions, their narratives are just as impactful.
After participating in two late night matches filled with ups and downs, Ajla Tomljanović openly discussed the extent of her sadness following her knee surgery last year.
Daria Saville, a former Russian tennis player known for her fun-loving personality, experienced on-court agony for three hours and 13 minutes in a tough match against Poland’s Magdalena Fręch in the opening round, shortly after recovering from her own injuries.
The most notable tale in Australian tennis this year was undoubtedly the rise of Storm Hunter, the top-ranked doubles player in the world.
The individual from Rockhampton has faced challenges with her self-confidence throughout her professional career. Despite being unfortunate in her match against 9th seed Barbora Krejčíková in the third round, at 29 years old she is determined to focus less on doubles success and instead aim higher on the singles rankings in 2024.
Although this group may never win a major singles championship, their struggles only enhance their appeal. As the festivities on Melbourne Park’s main court come to an end this week, the Australian tennis community will return to the training courts, striving to meet the demands of both the public and themselves.
“After my loss, I must admit that my perspective has shifted,” De Minaur stated with determination, his cap pulled low. “I am currently playing at a high level.”
Source: theguardian.com
