Alex de Minaur

[Damian]

[Bombardiero]

[Bombardiero]

[Damian]

[Damian]

Surging De Minaur Handed Tricky Draw In Eastbourne

Spoiler:

Opelka, Norrie on quarter-final collision course
Second seed Alex de Minaur will face a tricky opening test at the Viking International Eastbourne as he awaits the winner of Frances Tiafoe and wild card Liam Broady at the ATP 250 grass-court event.

De Minaur, who is seeking his first title on this surface to add to his four ATP Tour trophies, received a bye into the second round. The No. 22 player in the FedEx ATP Rankings will arrive in Eastbourne with momentum on his side after reaching a quarter-final in Stuttgart and two semi-finals at The Queen’s Club in singles and doubles (w/Norrie).

You May Also Like: Warning: Be On The Lookout For A Diving De Minaur On Grass
Sixth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also landed in De Minaur’s section and looms as a potential quarter-final opponent. The Spaniard turned heads on clay with a run to his first Grand Slam quarter-final at Roland Garros, but he will be contesting only his second tour-level main draw match on grass as he starts against a qualifier or lucky loser.

Big-serving Reilly Opelka, the fifth seed, and Queen’s Club finalist Cameron Norrie, the ninth seed, have also landed in the bottom half with De Minaur. Opelka awaits the winner of Marton Fucsovics and Aljaz Bedene in the second round, while Norrie starts against Aussie Alexei Popyrin in the first round. They could potentially meet in the quarter-finals.

How To Watch

World No. 16 Gael Monfils is the top seed in Eastbourne, and he will await the winner between two qualifiers or lucky losers in the second round. The Frenchman reached his only grass-court final here in Eastbourne in 2017 (l. Djokovic), and will be seeking his 11th ATP Tour title.

He could meet third seed Lorenzo Sonego in the semi-finals. The No. 26-ranked Italian will be seeking his second tour-level title on grass after his 2019 victory in Antalya (d. Kecmanovic). After a bye, Sonego will face the winner of John Millman and wild card Jay Clarke in the second round.

Click Here To View Full Eastbourne Singles Draw.

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[Kamileki]

De Minaur Rising: Aussie Alex de Minaur is rounding into form, and he will try to continue that trend this week at the Viking International Eastbourne. The 22-year-old, who advanced to the semi-finals at last week's cinch Championships in London, is the second seed in Eastbourne, where he lost in the first round of the main draw after qualifying in 2018. De Minaur will begin his tournament against American Frances Tiafoe or wild card Liam Broady.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/eastbou ... ing-report

[Damian]

De Minaur Believes Rising Stars Are ‘Getting Closer And Closer’

Spoiler:

The World No. 18 reached the semi-finals at The Queen's Club last week
Australian star Alex de Minaur thinks that despite Novak Djokovic winning the Australian Open and Roland Garros titles this year, the younger generation, led by World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev, is closing the gap.

Alongside the Russian, Dominic Thiem lifted the US Open last September, beating 24-year-old Alexander Zverev in the final. Roland Garros finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is 22, is currently second in the FedEx ATP Race To Turin.

“They are definitely knocking on those doors and beating these top guys in these tournaments,” De Minaur said. “When it comes to winning the Grand Slams, obviously we have had Novak win the past couple. Look, I think we're getting closer and closer.

“I know everyone out there is gunning to be the next Grand Slam champ, and to try to make that big step. All the players are out there, they are doing everything they can to make that step, and take over.”

The 22-year-old believes the experience that younger players have gained in the past year has been invaluable in helping reduce the gap. However, De Minaur admits there is still more work to be done.

“I think a lot of it is experience, as well. Every time we get to play those matches, we get to learn a lot and improve and lose respect for these type of players. That's only a good thing, because that means we can go out there and try to play like it's just another match, and more times than not, we'll end up playing a better match, and if not win, get really close,” De Minaur said.

“Time is obviously on our side, and every match, every day that goes by, we have a bit more of a chance. But saying that, it's definitely not done yet. They are bringing up some incredible tennis to this day, so it's going to be completely tough. But, I think we're all ready for the challenge,” De Minaur added.

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The Australian is currently at a career-high No. 18 in the FedEx ATP Rankings after reaching the semi-finals at the cinch Championships (l. to Berrettini) in London last week. He is the second seed at the Viking International Eastbourne this week, and is keen to continue his good grass-court form on the south coast of England.

“I'm very happy with my week at Queen's. I feel like I have been gradually improving every week on the grass,” De Minaur said. “The grass season is always one of my favourite parts of the year. I'm enjoying my time in the UK.

“I have always enjoyed the grass. I think it suits my game. I'm able to be a bit more aggressive. I'm able to use my movement, and try to sneak in and come to the net a lot. I just always like the quicker-paced courts.”

De Minaur will face either America’s Frances Tiafoe or British wild card, Liam Broady in the first round in Eastbourne.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/de-mina ... onday-2021

[Damian]

[Damian]

Demon Gets Off To Winning Start In Eastbourne

Spoiler:

Sonego breezes past Millman in second round
Second seed Alex de Minaur began his quest for the Viking International Eastbourne crown on Wednesday when he defeated British wild card Liam Broady 6-3, 6-4 over one hour and 40 minutes.

“It was very intense,” said De Minaur. “A very tough match at a high level, against a tricky opponent, who has been playing great. It’s a part of the year that I love. I enjoy the grass-court swing and I want to make every match count.”

The Australian is currently at a career-high No. 18 in the FedEx ATP Rankings, having returned to the Top 20 for the first time in 18 months after a run to last week’s cinch Championships semi-finals (l. to Berrettini). He will next challenge Canadian Vasek Pospisil in the quarter-finals. De Minaur leads Pospisil 3-0 in their ATP Head2Head series.

How To Watch

In a closely fought contest at Devonshire Park, De Minaur came under early pressure, but broke clear in the seventh game and completed the 46-minute opener with a backhand crosscourt winner. De Minaur appeared to be in control when he served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, but World No. 144 Broady raised his game for one final push.

De Minaur improves to a 17-14 match record on the season, which includes the Antalya Open crown (d. Bublik).

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Pospisil, celebrating his 31st birthday today, advanced mid-afternoon Wednesday having won the first set against sixth-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6(1) after 73 minutes. Davidovich Fokina required on-court treatment early in the match for a back injury, which had troubled him since Roland Garros.

Elsewhere, third-seeded Italian Lorenzo Sonego powered his way to a 6-4, 6-2 win over John Millman of Australia in 81 minutes. The 26-year-old Sonego, who captured a grass-court trophy two years ago in Antalya (d. Kecmanovic), now faces eighth-seeded Kazakhstani Alexander Bublik.

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[Kamileki]

[Nando]

[Bombardiero]

ATP Eastbourne F:

15 David Goffin 2680
16 Alex de Minaur 2590
17 Gaël Monfils 2568

[Nando]

[Damian]

[Nando]

[Barty]

#5) Eastbourne 2021


tennis-tourtalk.com

R1 wolna runda
R2 [WC] Liam Broady 63 64
QF Vasek Pospisil 63 64
SF [LL] Soonwoo Kwon 63 76(2)
W [3] Lorenzo Sonego 46 64 76(5)

[Kamileki]

[Damian]

[Damian]

De Minaur Wins Fifth ATP Tour Title In Eastbourne

Spoiler:

It is the Australian's first trophy on grass
Second seed Alex de Minaur fought back to overcome Lorenzo Sonego 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) and claim his first grass-court ATP Tour title at the Viking International Eastbourne on Saturday.

The Australian's four other tour-level crowns have come on hard courts, and he is now 8-2 on grass this season. He reached the quarter-finals at the MercedesCup in Stuttgart and the semi-finals at the cinch Championships in London. Victory over the Italian means he will move to a career-high No. 15 in the FedEx ATP Rankings.

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“I had to pull through all my mental strength I had. I had to tell myself to try and be a bit more aggressive and go to win that match, not just wait for my opponent to lose it, because he was not going to do that,” De Minaur said. “I am very happy to have played more aggressively in the important points and stay in there, as it was not an easy match. I am happy to have my fifth title.

“My first emotion is relief, for finally getting these results, and ecstatic I have been able to pull through and play some good tennis. Every match has helped me confidence wise and strategy wise. Every mach I play, I take little things, what I could have done better, what I want to do next time I am in that position."

In a tight opening set, in which both won 68 per cent of their first-service points, they exchanged breaks early. De Minaur looked to dictate play on his forehand, but Sonego successfully moved the Australian around the court to gain a crucial break in the tenth game to clinch the set 6-4.


De Minaur fought back in the second set, moving 2-0 ahead as he started to hit the ball with more authority. The 23-year-old’s movement was as impressive as ever, and he won 90 per cent (9/10) of his second-service points to level.

The match continued to be a close affair in the decider with both increasing their level on serve as it moved to a tie-break. De Minaur continued to exert pressure on the Italian and moved 5/2 ahead. He was pegged back to 5/5, but re-composed himself to close out to win with a smash in two hours and 42 minutes.

Sonego was bidding to win his second ATP Tour title on grass, and third overall, after winning the Turkish Airlines Open Antalya crown (d. Kecmanovic) in 2019. Despite defeat, the World No. 27 has recorded 18 tour-level wins this season. Sonego is just two victories away from equalling his best-ever season, when he won 20 matches in 2019.

https://www.atptour.com/en/news/de-mina ... urday-2021

[Damian]

De Minaur's Delicate Dance: Legal Or Not?

Spoiler:

The Australian won the point of the tournament against Kwon in Eastbourne semi-final
Alex de Minaur produced a moment of magic on his way to the Viking International Eastbourne title this week. But the moment it happened, the Aussie wasn't sure if his amazing feat was legal.

In his semi-final victory against Soonwoo Kwon on Thursday, the second seed covered every blade of grass and strained every muscle in his body to win an epic point at 3/1 in the second set tie-break.

De Minaur was just millimetres from the net as he scampered to return Kwon’s drop-volley. The 22-year-old was forced onto his tiptoes, and also waved his arms and racquet over the net in a desperate attempt to retain his balance. Having successfully halted his forward momentum, De Minaur then charged back to fetch the South Korean’s lob.

Miraculously, he won the point by reaching Kwon's following volley, hitting home a backhand winner into the empty court. The Australian, who went on to win 6-3, 7-6(2), lifted the Eastbourne crowd to their feet with his incredible agility and movement and lit up the day.


“I wasn’t sure if I can go over the net and use part of the racquet to push off, but my biggest concern was to not touch the net, so I did everything I could to stop my forward momentum,” reflected De Minaur Sunday after winning his fifth ATP Tour title. “Somehow, I didn’t touch the net and won that point. It was a big point in the tie-break and it made all the difference.”

Although De Minaur’s arms and racquet crossed over the net, that is allowed under the rules.

A player loses the point if he touches the net while the ball is still in play. But if his racquet or upper body cross the net after hitting the ball on the correct side, that’s all within the rules. Play continues if no contact is made with the net or the opponent’s court while the ball is in play or any hindrance caused to his opponent.

De Minaur will now head to Wimbledon as the 15th seed and will face #NextGenATP star Sebastian Korda in the first round. If he can replicate the brilliance shown in Eastbourne at SW19, he is on course to have further success.

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