Inspired by negative feedback on social media, Alex de Minaur sets his sights on defeating more high-profile players after securing a win against Alexander Zverev, earning him a position among the top players in the tennis world just before the Australian Open.
The top-ranked Australian player will enter his home Grand Slam with renewed excitement, as he has achieved a Top 10 ranking for the first time ever. He achieved this milestone with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zverev at the United Cup in Sydney.
Although Australia did not win against Germany, De Minaur has been on a winning streak leading up to next week’s tournament in Melbourne.
On Saturday, he achieved his second victory over Olympic champion Zverev, marking a significant week in his career. This came after the 24-year-old defeated Novak Djokovic for the first time.
Despite not being the most prominent or powerful player, De Minaur plans to continue seeking support from online critics as he strives to succeed in Melbourne.
“I gained a lot of confidence after my initial match and was able to elevate my performance. These matches before the Australian Open are valuable and I am grateful for them,” De Minaur stated. “It was a significant experience that I will always treasure.”
I understand the various factors that may hinder my success on social media and prevent me from improving as a player. However, I choose to use these reasons as fuel for my motivation. Ultimately, my determination has led me to where I am now, and I am determined to reach my full potential.
Even though Zverev lost on Saturday, he has a 6-2 record against De Minaur. However, the German’s world ranking of 6th has cautioned other top players that De Minaur has become a formidable opponent since their last match almost a year and a half ago.
“I believe that Alex’s performance against me was the best he has ever played,” Zverev stated. “He is currently in incredible form… his forehand, which has typically been a weaker shot for him, was not.”
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“I was particularly impressed by his second serve, as it was consistently between 160kmh and 165kmh, which was not typical of him in the past. Usually, his second serve was a weakness, but he played exceptionally well. He defeated Novak in straight sets and also defeated me today. He is currently in excellent form and poses a significant threat.”
De Minaur also expressed the same sentiment. His performance in the United Cup, which included a victory against Taylor Fritz from America, gave him the confidence that he could potentially defeat top players like Djokovic and Zverev more frequently.
De Minaur expressed that the past week has greatly improved his performance against top-10 opponents. He has demonstrated his ability to succeed in two different locations, and is pleased with his progress in 2024. He hopes to continue this success.
Source: theguardian.com
