Alex De Minaur: The future of Australian tennis?
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ByEurosport
Updated 16/01/2017 at 12:09 GMT
Alex De Minaur shocked Gerald Melzer 5-7 6-3 2-6 7-6(2) 6-1 to progress to the second round of the Australian Open at the first time of asking - but who is he?
Australia's Alex De Minaur reacts during the Men's singles first round match against Austria's Gerald Melzer.
Image credit: Reuters
The 17-year-old twice came from a set down to progress against 86th-ranked Melzer in three hours and 42 minutes.
Impressive stuff for a player ranked 301 in the world.
WHO IS HE?
De Minaur was born to a Spanish mother and Uruguayan father in Sydney and has lived quite the nomadic existence, having split his time between his country of birth and Spain, where he lives in Alicante.
He plays under the Australian flag, whom he represented at the 2015 Junior Davis Cup final in Madrid.
CAREER PROGRESS
He debuted on the ATP rankings in August 2015 at No.1544 and has made steady progress throughout 2015 and 2016.
De Minaur made two ITF Futures finals and the final of Junior Wimbledon during an impressive 2016 that also saw the 17-year-old claim a first win on the pro tour in September, beating Scott Puodziunas 6-0 7-5 at the Brisbane QTC Tennis International.
World number 46 Benoit Paire was beaten at ATP Sydney as De Minaur secured a first tour-level win in early January 2017 but the youngster had to withdraw due to an abdominal strain, and won a race against time to be fit for the first Grand Slam of the year.
THE LLEYTON HEWITT CONNECTION
De Minaur, nicknamed ‘The Minotaur', showed remarkable grit and determination to save match point in the fourth to overcome Melzer in five; qualities reminiscent of his mentor Lleyton Hewitt, who he has been staying with ahead of the tournament.
The 17-year-old took time out after his win to pay tribute to Hewitt.
It was a great preparation for the Australian Open. A very tough pre-season and I couldn't be happier. I stayed with him in Sydney and also at his place in Melbourne. At the French Open last year in the juniors, he came out and we had a nice chat and told me that he would be very supportive of everything I needed. It's been unbelievable the amount of stuff he's done for me. I couldn't be more grateful. I spent time with his family and we went out with the family for dinner together. It was nice.
'THE HAPPIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE'
"I mean, words can't describe how I'm feeling right now," De Minaur said.
"It is definitely the happiest moment of my life. I was struggling a fair bit. At the start of the fifth, I was also feeling it. But I thought it was really important to just push through and finally get the win."
WHAT HAS BEEN SAID ABOUT HIM?
Australian doubles great John Fitzgerald remarked on similarities with Hewitt whilst on commentary duties.
"He's an impressive kid," Fitzgerald said. "He has the understanding of where to hit the ball, then where to move."
"He knows intuitive stuff already at a young age how to play. I see a little bit of a young Lleyton Hewitt and I don't say that lightly. But he is beyond his years and I'm really impressed so far."
WHAT’S NEXT?
Short term? Sam Querrey in round two.
Longer term, follow the career trajectory of Mr Hewitt.
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