Every yr in a home a couple of minutes’ stroll from Wimbledon, the greats of Australian tennis collect for the “Aussie Barbecue”, a celebration of among the true legends of the game. This yr, Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall have been honoured, whereas the likes of Lleyton Hewitt and Sam Stosur have been amongst those that chatted away and listened to tales of a few of their unbelievable exploits.
Alex de Minaur was not amongst them, the 25-year-old specializing in his third-round match the next day. Whereas De Minaur ultimately obtained a walkover into the subsequent spherical, it was a good choice from one of the devoted, hard-working gamers on the tour who has been having fun with the very best 12 months of his profession. On Wednesday, the Australian No 1 has the prospect to place his identify alongside a few of these legends, if – and it’s an enormous if – he can beat the seven-time champion Novak Djokovic.
It’s a job that has been past most individuals at Wimbledon, with Djokovic shedding solely thrice since his defeat to Andy Murray within the 2013 remaining. However although the world No 2’s restoration from knee surgical procedure within the second week of the French Open has been little in need of miraculous, the 37-year-old has been reluctant to slip to his forehand and admitted to Serbian media that he’s removed from 100%, even when his type has improved with every spherical.
De Minaur will go into the match with perception that he can exploit any weak spot in Djokovic’s motion, though there’s additionally concern in regards to the Australian’s health after he appeared to jar his ankle on the finish of his fourth-round victory over the Frenchman, Arthur Fils. Talking on Monday night time, De Minaur mentioned he could be OK and Todd Woodbridge, the previous doubles No 1 who working at Wimbledon for Australian TV, mentioned he’d heard he could be match. Woodbridge provides him a combating likelihood, if he’s ruthless.
“I feel he’s acquired presumably the very best likelihood he’s had in his profession to beat certainly one of these huge guys in a slam event,” Woodbridge mentioned. “I assume the difficulty is him developing match; by all accounts he’s wonderful, in order that’s good, however that match level was very, very awkward. Novak is getting higher so Alex goes to should play the match of his life, however he’s been in a quarter-final earlier than.
“You’ve acquired to check him on a regular basis along with his motion. Alex is a good mover, however on grass one of many key issues is getting the opponent shifting ahead after which going again behind as a result of they’re the actions that may tweak knees and all that. Sounds nasty, however we’re right here for the win.”
De Minaur has overwhelmed Djokovic earlier than, on the United Cup in January, though Djokovic gained once they met in Monte-Carlo in April. That, although, was on clay; that is grass, the place De Minaur’s flat groundstrokes ought to get extra reward.
Nenad Zimonjic, the Serbian doubles star who briefly labored with Djokovic earlier this yr, appreciates the issue De Minaur brings. “I might say if Novak is 100% match I don’t suppose he would worry him in any respect,” he mentioned. “Now the query is how his physique is, how the knee goes to react if they’ve longer rallies. That’s the one query. Sure, De Minaur doesn’t have huge weapons like another gamers however he’s very constant, very fast. He improved his sport, first serve is healthier, he’s coming extra to the online. In order that’s the addition to his sport. And that exhibits within the outcomes that he’s been having this yr.”
De Minaur reached his first slam quarter-final at Roland-Garros final month and gained the warm-up occasion on grass within the Netherlands. The shape is there and if he can enhance his first-serve share, which has been the one space of his sport not fairly firing on all cylinders and offering he’s absolutely match himself, the floor ought to assist his probabilities too as he tries to turn out to be the 14th Australian man to make the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
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“I feel grass fits his sport as a result of he performs fairly flat and the ball stays low, which is nice for him,” he mentioned. “And he’s an unbelievable mover. Bodily very match, one of many quickest guys on tour. So it’s not going to be straightforward. He’s acquired nice help from his crew, then additionally Lleyton is right here, who can assist him lots. So it’s going to be a really, very robust take a look at for Novak.”
Hewitt secured his place in Wimbledon historical past when he gained the title in 2002. If De Minaur can discover a technique to get previous Djokovic, with Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz within the different half, he’ll give himself an opportunity to just do the identical.
