'No excuses, I'm ready': Demon's pre-Wimby declaration
Alex de Minaur reckons the downcast figure of Paris has been replaced by the rejuvenated optimist of Wimbledon who's put himself first and is feeling full of beans.
But Australia's main man isn't about to make any predictions about another stirring run to match his surge to the quarters last year at Wimbledon, shrugging: "It's now up to my tennis to do the talking."
Question marks have swirled around de Minaur's form and confidence after his dejected second-round exit at Roland Garros was followed by him losing his only tour grass-court match of the season at Queen's Club.
But back at another grand slam after a revitalising break in London that's featured golf, relaxation around Wimbledon with fiancee Katie Boulter and a lone exhibition win over fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin, he sounded a bit more like his normal chipper self at his annual state-of-the-Demon address at Wimbledon on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
He did admit his return to his favoured surface had been a bit tentative this year as he recalled the freakish hip injury, caused by "an unnecessary slide" at the end of his Wimbledon fourth-round win over Arthur Fils that eventually stopped him taking the court against Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals.
"But I've been able to really start to feel comfortable again and start to move the way I was last year, and not be afraid to kind of go out there and slide, which is a very good sign for me," said 11th seed de Minaur, who'll open his defence on Tuesday against Spain's world No.74 Roberto Carballes Baena.
Talking about his enforced break after Paris when it was hard to remember him seeming so down, he reflected: "I was able to to take a step back, accept what has happened and and put myself first for the first time in a while, and I think that was quite crucial.
"And even though it didn't bring out the result I wanted in Queen's (where he was beaten by eventual finalist Jiri Lehecka), I do now feel in a very good head-space going into Wimbledon.
"I feel refreshed. I feel full of energy. And now it's up to my tennis to do the talking, right? But there's no excuses, whether physically or mentally. I feel like I'm ready to go."
De Minaur's lapse at Roland Garros, when he was two sets up against Alexander Bublik and then felt he lost his way against the marvellous, manic Kazakh, was a rare recent grand slam calamity for the 26-year-old, who had reached at least the last-16 in his six previous majors.
Reflecting that he could give himself a "pat on the back" for that consistency, he also admitted his constant demanding schedule had eventually "taken its toll."
And asked how so many tour players could avoid that same physical and mental toll, he said: "I think I speak for the vast majority of tennis players, that ideally what we would like to have is a shorter schedule that allows us to have a proper off-season.
"So I would shorten the schedule and give players more time off at the end of the year, and then you would see less injuries, over-use injuries and less mental fatigue, which will allow a better level as a whole for the tour, for the spectator, for the sport, and a better atmosphere for everyone."
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Herald Sun
4 hours ago
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Jake Paul vs Julio Cesar Chavez Jr live: Fight time and how to watch
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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
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Raising the bar: tennis super duo setting new standards
As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. 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Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday. As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday. As Wimbledon pub lunches go, it could have proved a particularly indigestible one for an already miserable Alex de Minaur as he dined while watching two of his rivals serving up a televised feast of tennis in the French Open final. Knocked out in the second round, Australia's big hope had come to England for a bit of r and r with fiancee Katie Boulter, wanting nothing to do with the sport for a while - and the sight of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner duelling in one of the greatest tennis matches looked designed to make him feel even more deflated. For didn't the sublime standard of the game they were producing make Australia's No.1 - and perhaps the rest of the best in the men's game - feel they were playing almost a different sport, such was the level the pair reached in their five-and-a-half hour classic finally edged by Alcaraz? On the contrary, reckoned 'Demon'. "By the time we got to dinner, it was on every single TV. And the whole fifth set was captivating from the very first point to the last -- and it was truly great to watch as a fan of the sport," he reflected. So, no sigh of resignation then? "No, I think those two are bringing out the best in each other, and are raising the bar constantly. So the way I was looking at it as a competitor and a fellow player, I saw that as the benchmark. "And it keeps on rising. So ultimately, from my side, I've got to keep on improving too, because, ultimately, what I truly want in this sport is to compete for the biggest tournaments, then I've got to get to that level, or as close as I can to that level. "And that means for me to keep on looking at myself in the mirror and improving in certain areas. And obviously it gives me drive, motivation and hunger." Whether the rest of the Wimbledon men's field feel the same way is unclear as the same dynamic duo of world No.1 Sinner and his nearest Spanish pursuer start Wimbledon as almost unbackable favourites this week, having won the last six slams between them. This increasing duopoly seems ominous even to the peerless Novak Djokovic, who conceded on Saturday that this edition could be his best chance of finally sealing that elusive record 25th grand slam at the age of 38. Seeking to become the oldest slam winner in the Open era, he told reporters: "My wish is to play for several more years, I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. "That's the goal, but you never know at this stage. "I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance because of the results I have had, because of how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon. "But whether it could be my last dance, I'm not sure, as I'm not sure about Roland Garros or any other slam that I play next." So if Djokovic trips up in this last waltz, who else might be a contender to end the Sinner-Alcaraz grand slam feast? How about American Taylor Fritz, the fifth seed who quietly wrapped up another ATP title in Eastbourne on Saturday, his third at the traditional Wimbledon curtain raiser, by defeating Jenson Brooksby 7-5 6-1 in the final. "I'm going to be ready to go," beamed the 27-year-old, who has a quick turnaround before kicking off his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a battle of the big hitters on Monday.
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Hensby on target for big birthday bash in Colorado
Australian Mark Hensby is on track to celebrate his 54th birthday in style, co-leading the US Senior Open with Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington with one round to play. The trio are tied at eight-under 202 in Colorado Springs. The New South Welshman's 68 on Sunday (AEST) included four birdies, along with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 9th, taking his total to 19 for the tournament. But his best look of all — a six-foot uphill attempt on No.18 that came as the course was still buzzing from a stunning Harrington birdie — fell far off to the right and he settled for par. Hensby is aiming to become just the second Aussie to win the event after Graham Marsh in 1997 and the first to win a senior major championship since Stewart Ginn at the 2002 Senior Players Championship. "Any time you play with two great players like that, it's definitely fun," said Hensby, who also had four bogeys in round three. "Didn't get off to the best start, but ... we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going. "I just felt like I've just got to play my game and try and just do the best I can do all day and see what happens. "Fortunately, some things started to go my way, got a couple of nice breaks." Harrington chipped in from 20 yards off the green on the 18th to salvage a floundering round. It capped a two-under 68 and put him in the same spot he was in to start — tied with the same two opponents he played with over another tricky day at the Broadmoor that included wind, rain, even a flash of lightning that pulled the players off the course for a half-hour. "We could've taken the day off," the Irishman said as he shook hands to wrap up a day of twists and turns. Harrington yanked his final tee shot into the rough left of the fairway and had no choice but to hack out over the lake and short of the green. But he turned a possible bogey into an unlikely birdie and guaranteed himself a spot in the final group. "I was very happy with the chip," said the 2022 champion, "and it was a big bonus that it went in." One shot behind sits Dane Thomas Bjorn, whose 66 matched the best round of the day. Steve Flesch (67) was next at four under and Steven Alker's 66 left him at three under, tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) and Paul Stankowski (67). Seven other Aussies in the field have some work to do to finish in the red. Rod Pampling (69) is even, Steve Allan (69) and Scott Hend (71) one over, Greg Chalmers (71) and Cameron Percy (70) three over, Stuart Appleby (73) four over and Richard Green (73) five over the card. With the AP. Australian Mark Hensby is on track to celebrate his 54th birthday in style, co-leading the US Senior Open with Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington with one round to play. The trio are tied at eight-under 202 in Colorado Springs. The New South Welshman's 68 on Sunday (AEST) included four birdies, along with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 9th, taking his total to 19 for the tournament. But his best look of all — a six-foot uphill attempt on No.18 that came as the course was still buzzing from a stunning Harrington birdie — fell far off to the right and he settled for par. Hensby is aiming to become just the second Aussie to win the event after Graham Marsh in 1997 and the first to win a senior major championship since Stewart Ginn at the 2002 Senior Players Championship. "Any time you play with two great players like that, it's definitely fun," said Hensby, who also had four bogeys in round three. "Didn't get off to the best start, but ... we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going. "I just felt like I've just got to play my game and try and just do the best I can do all day and see what happens. "Fortunately, some things started to go my way, got a couple of nice breaks." Harrington chipped in from 20 yards off the green on the 18th to salvage a floundering round. It capped a two-under 68 and put him in the same spot he was in to start — tied with the same two opponents he played with over another tricky day at the Broadmoor that included wind, rain, even a flash of lightning that pulled the players off the course for a half-hour. "We could've taken the day off," the Irishman said as he shook hands to wrap up a day of twists and turns. Harrington yanked his final tee shot into the rough left of the fairway and had no choice but to hack out over the lake and short of the green. But he turned a possible bogey into an unlikely birdie and guaranteed himself a spot in the final group. "I was very happy with the chip," said the 2022 champion, "and it was a big bonus that it went in." One shot behind sits Dane Thomas Bjorn, whose 66 matched the best round of the day. Steve Flesch (67) was next at four under and Steven Alker's 66 left him at three under, tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) and Paul Stankowski (67). Seven other Aussies in the field have some work to do to finish in the red. Rod Pampling (69) is even, Steve Allan (69) and Scott Hend (71) one over, Greg Chalmers (71) and Cameron Percy (70) three over, Stuart Appleby (73) four over and Richard Green (73) five over the card. With the AP. Australian Mark Hensby is on track to celebrate his 54th birthday in style, co-leading the US Senior Open with Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington with one round to play. The trio are tied at eight-under 202 in Colorado Springs. The New South Welshman's 68 on Sunday (AEST) included four birdies, along with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 9th, taking his total to 19 for the tournament. But his best look of all — a six-foot uphill attempt on No.18 that came as the course was still buzzing from a stunning Harrington birdie — fell far off to the right and he settled for par. Hensby is aiming to become just the second Aussie to win the event after Graham Marsh in 1997 and the first to win a senior major championship since Stewart Ginn at the 2002 Senior Players Championship. "Any time you play with two great players like that, it's definitely fun," said Hensby, who also had four bogeys in round three. "Didn't get off to the best start, but ... we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going. "I just felt like I've just got to play my game and try and just do the best I can do all day and see what happens. "Fortunately, some things started to go my way, got a couple of nice breaks." Harrington chipped in from 20 yards off the green on the 18th to salvage a floundering round. It capped a two-under 68 and put him in the same spot he was in to start — tied with the same two opponents he played with over another tricky day at the Broadmoor that included wind, rain, even a flash of lightning that pulled the players off the course for a half-hour. "We could've taken the day off," the Irishman said as he shook hands to wrap up a day of twists and turns. Harrington yanked his final tee shot into the rough left of the fairway and had no choice but to hack out over the lake and short of the green. But he turned a possible bogey into an unlikely birdie and guaranteed himself a spot in the final group. "I was very happy with the chip," said the 2022 champion, "and it was a big bonus that it went in." One shot behind sits Dane Thomas Bjorn, whose 66 matched the best round of the day. Steve Flesch (67) was next at four under and Steven Alker's 66 left him at three under, tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) and Paul Stankowski (67). Seven other Aussies in the field have some work to do to finish in the red. Rod Pampling (69) is even, Steve Allan (69) and Scott Hend (71) one over, Greg Chalmers (71) and Cameron Percy (70) three over, Stuart Appleby (73) four over and Richard Green (73) five over the card. With the AP. Australian Mark Hensby is on track to celebrate his 54th birthday in style, co-leading the US Senior Open with Stewart Cink and Padraig Harrington with one round to play. The trio are tied at eight-under 202 in Colorado Springs. The New South Welshman's 68 on Sunday (AEST) included four birdies, along with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 9th, taking his total to 19 for the tournament. But his best look of all — a six-foot uphill attempt on No.18 that came as the course was still buzzing from a stunning Harrington birdie — fell far off to the right and he settled for par. Hensby is aiming to become just the second Aussie to win the event after Graham Marsh in 1997 and the first to win a senior major championship since Stewart Ginn at the 2002 Senior Players Championship. "Any time you play with two great players like that, it's definitely fun," said Hensby, who also had four bogeys in round three. "Didn't get off to the best start, but ... we all kind of made a few birdies there in a row and we started to get things going. "I just felt like I've just got to play my game and try and just do the best I can do all day and see what happens. "Fortunately, some things started to go my way, got a couple of nice breaks." Harrington chipped in from 20 yards off the green on the 18th to salvage a floundering round. It capped a two-under 68 and put him in the same spot he was in to start — tied with the same two opponents he played with over another tricky day at the Broadmoor that included wind, rain, even a flash of lightning that pulled the players off the course for a half-hour. "We could've taken the day off," the Irishman said as he shook hands to wrap up a day of twists and turns. Harrington yanked his final tee shot into the rough left of the fairway and had no choice but to hack out over the lake and short of the green. But he turned a possible bogey into an unlikely birdie and guaranteed himself a spot in the final group. "I was very happy with the chip," said the 2022 champion, "and it was a big bonus that it went in." One shot behind sits Dane Thomas Bjorn, whose 66 matched the best round of the day. Steve Flesch (67) was next at four under and Steven Alker's 66 left him at three under, tied with Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) and Paul Stankowski (67). Seven other Aussies in the field have some work to do to finish in the red. Rod Pampling (69) is even, Steve Allan (69) and Scott Hend (71) one over, Greg Chalmers (71) and Cameron Percy (70) three over, Stuart Appleby (73) four over and Richard Green (73) five over the card. With the AP.
