Alex de Minaur

The Aussie was full of smiles after powering into the final 16 at Melbourne Park.

“I was a bit worried - my ankle is good but my wrist was hurting a bit,” the 19-year-old said. So thank you guys so much for making it so special.” “I lost a bit of confidence and I’m happy that since the first match here I’m playing really good tennis and I’m improving.” “Every match I’m playing better and better and I’m really happy because at the beginning of the season I lost a couple of tough matches against great players,” Rublev said. “Every time I get out here I have to pinch myself. “I asked the ball boy for a banana but Danny asked for bananas earlier and he had two so he threw me one,” a smiling Rublev said.

Alex de Minaur says he's ready to take it to Novak Djokovic after setting up a blockbuster fourth-round showdown with the nine-times Australian Open ...

“You don’t want a walkover into the final of a slam. “I mean, you’ve got to step it up. “Look, I’m not going to read into too much of that injury.

And then there was one. Six days into the Australian Open 2023 and only Alex De Minaur remains after Alexei Popyrin last night failed to follow his Davis.

In a flash he was 3-1 ahead and the half way point of the match was there. While there are taller and stronger players about, there are few quicker and he can scuttle around with the dexterity of a crab but with the pace and anticipation of a whippet. He loves the sport badly says Murray but the possibility of giving it up to retirement seems equally unlikely. I will get fired up, get the crowd behind me, and I’ll definitely have a good time.” Putting the extraordinary Andy Murray aside, is there anyone to match his ability and willing to hang in for every point and to fight? Though maybe not after last night and a minimum $338,000 pay cheque. His loyalty to his Davis Cup captain, the most important man in Australian tennis right now, is absolute and reciprocated. He has a girlfriend whom he is asked about a lot — Britain’s Katie Swann — and speaks highly of her always. “I’m not going to read into too much of that injury. He is too increasingly rounded as a performer and person. He’s also world ranked 24 and has been as high as 15. Seeded 22, he speaks very well and has a deeper, more baritone voice than you might expect.