Woodbridge: 'Devastated' Demon can learn from Djokovic
After de Minaur's fourth-round defeat by the great Djokovic, Todd Woodbridge, the 22-time grand slam doubles champ, and former finalist Mark Philippoussis both told AAP they backed de Minaur to respond strongly to the setback.
Woodbridge revealed he had spent a couple of hours with the "devastated" de Minaur after the match, when the Australian No.1 broke down the details of where he thought he had gone wrong.
Asked what he needed to do to take the next step towards his grand slam ambitions, Woodbridge said: "It's really obvious … He knows that his serve has let him down here."
At 4-2 up in the third set, looking set to drag Djokovic into a fifth, de Minaur faltered before succumbing 1-6 6-4 6-4 6-4.
"He felt if he could have had a better percentage and keep the pace of his serve up, then he would have been able to keep that extra pressure on Novak, so he was really devastated," said Woodbridge.
"It's hard to crash through to this next level, to get to a semi, maybe a final at a slam, and win those matches. They're the ones Alex says 'I have to win'.
"We talked about him using, actually, Novak as an example of someone throughout their career who has adjusted their service motion, always finding something to improve upon it.
"I think about 12 months ago, he was serving better than he is now. I think his technique's gotten a little bit back to the way he used to. But everything else has improved. Physically, he's stronger, there's bit more shape on the ball, and as a transition player, he's fantastic.
"So you're talking one percenters, and you've got to find as many small improvements as you can to break through, and no kid will work harder in the game than Alex to make that happen."
'Scud' Philippoussis, himself the possessor of a mighty serve, has always maintained the lack of a similar weapon for de Minaur has been the one thing holding back de Minaur in his bid to crack the winning code as he's reached five grand slam quarter-finals but never got beyond.
Yet the 1998 US Open and 2003 Wimbledon finalist Philippoussis still sees improvement in the 26-year-old 'Demon'.
"Of course, he's disappointed, but it's very positive," said Philippoussis. "He had the opportunity, that's for sure, but once Novak gets going, it's tough out there. But Alex had a great couple of weeks, and hopefully he can build on that for the US Open swing.
"He's still looking to find something that gives him freer points on his first serve, and hopefully he can find something.
"But he's always improving because he's got the mentality, he's got the physicality, and he's got the heart and the hunger, that's for sure. And he's definitely still improving."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Star Eagle almost cooked for 2025 after ankle struggles
Star West Coast midfielder Elliot Yeo is set to miss the entire AFL season after making a slower-than-expected recovery from his second bout of ankle surgery. Yeo injured his knee and suffered a syndesmosis injury to his ankle at training in the pre-season. Although the 31-year-old recovered from the knee injury, his ankle required a second round of surgery in May, and it still hasn't progressed as hoped. Until last week, it was expected Yeo would make a playing return within the next month. But those hopes now appear to have gone up in smoke, with West Coast all but resigned to being without Yeo for the rest of the season. "He just hasn't progressed as well as we'd hoped when integrating back into training," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said on Thursday. "We're running out of weeks, there's no question about that. "We're just going to do a bit more research, and we'll know more in the next week or so. "It's to do with the original injury. It's had some complications along the way, which is not totally unusual. "It's been one thing on top of the other unfortunately this year for him. It's a bit of a shame for him. It's been a really challenging period." Yeo is West Coast's best clearance player, and his younger midfield teammates such as Harley Reid and Elijah Hewett have struggled without him this year. The amount of injuries suffered at West Coast in 2025 has been the lowest in years. Unfortunately, the ones who have copped the injuries have been their star players. Yeo is unlikely to play at all this year, while Jake Waterman (shoulder) and Oscar Allen (achilles/knee) are out for the rest of the season. Five-time All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern was forced to retire early due to repeat concussions, while premiership hero Dom Sheed has also hung up the boots after tearing his ACL in the pre-season. West Coast (1-15) appear destined for their second wooden spoon in three years, and face a tricky task against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The match will mark Jamie Cripps' 250th game for the Eagles, following on from 16 games across two years at St Kilda at the start of his career. "I played with 'Crippa' at the start. I was actually his mentor," said McQualter, a former tagger at St Kilda. "It's crazy how the world works. He was such a hard worker. We did a time trial and he won it in his first year as an 18-year-old kid. "It was a 1km time trial and he ran the fastest time anyone had run for years there. "He had the makings of always being what he is now." Star West Coast midfielder Elliot Yeo is set to miss the entire AFL season after making a slower-than-expected recovery from his second bout of ankle surgery. Yeo injured his knee and suffered a syndesmosis injury to his ankle at training in the pre-season. Although the 31-year-old recovered from the knee injury, his ankle required a second round of surgery in May, and it still hasn't progressed as hoped. Until last week, it was expected Yeo would make a playing return within the next month. But those hopes now appear to have gone up in smoke, with West Coast all but resigned to being without Yeo for the rest of the season. "He just hasn't progressed as well as we'd hoped when integrating back into training," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said on Thursday. "We're running out of weeks, there's no question about that. "We're just going to do a bit more research, and we'll know more in the next week or so. "It's to do with the original injury. It's had some complications along the way, which is not totally unusual. "It's been one thing on top of the other unfortunately this year for him. It's a bit of a shame for him. It's been a really challenging period." Yeo is West Coast's best clearance player, and his younger midfield teammates such as Harley Reid and Elijah Hewett have struggled without him this year. The amount of injuries suffered at West Coast in 2025 has been the lowest in years. Unfortunately, the ones who have copped the injuries have been their star players. Yeo is unlikely to play at all this year, while Jake Waterman (shoulder) and Oscar Allen (achilles/knee) are out for the rest of the season. Five-time All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern was forced to retire early due to repeat concussions, while premiership hero Dom Sheed has also hung up the boots after tearing his ACL in the pre-season. West Coast (1-15) appear destined for their second wooden spoon in three years, and face a tricky task against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The match will mark Jamie Cripps' 250th game for the Eagles, following on from 16 games across two years at St Kilda at the start of his career. "I played with 'Crippa' at the start. I was actually his mentor," said McQualter, a former tagger at St Kilda. "It's crazy how the world works. He was such a hard worker. We did a time trial and he won it in his first year as an 18-year-old kid. "It was a 1km time trial and he ran the fastest time anyone had run for years there. "He had the makings of always being what he is now." Star West Coast midfielder Elliot Yeo is set to miss the entire AFL season after making a slower-than-expected recovery from his second bout of ankle surgery. Yeo injured his knee and suffered a syndesmosis injury to his ankle at training in the pre-season. Although the 31-year-old recovered from the knee injury, his ankle required a second round of surgery in May, and it still hasn't progressed as hoped. Until last week, it was expected Yeo would make a playing return within the next month. But those hopes now appear to have gone up in smoke, with West Coast all but resigned to being without Yeo for the rest of the season. "He just hasn't progressed as well as we'd hoped when integrating back into training," Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said on Thursday. "We're running out of weeks, there's no question about that. "We're just going to do a bit more research, and we'll know more in the next week or so. "It's to do with the original injury. It's had some complications along the way, which is not totally unusual. "It's been one thing on top of the other unfortunately this year for him. It's a bit of a shame for him. It's been a really challenging period." Yeo is West Coast's best clearance player, and his younger midfield teammates such as Harley Reid and Elijah Hewett have struggled without him this year. The amount of injuries suffered at West Coast in 2025 has been the lowest in years. Unfortunately, the ones who have copped the injuries have been their star players. Yeo is unlikely to play at all this year, while Jake Waterman (shoulder) and Oscar Allen (achilles/knee) are out for the rest of the season. Five-time All-Australian defender Jeremy McGovern was forced to retire early due to repeat concussions, while premiership hero Dom Sheed has also hung up the boots after tearing his ACL in the pre-season. West Coast (1-15) appear destined for their second wooden spoon in three years, and face a tricky task against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Sunday. The match will mark Jamie Cripps' 250th game for the Eagles, following on from 16 games across two years at St Kilda at the start of his career. "I played with 'Crippa' at the start. I was actually his mentor," said McQualter, a former tagger at St Kilda. "It's crazy how the world works. He was such a hard worker. We did a time trial and he won it in his first year as an 18-year-old kid. "It was a 1km time trial and he ran the fastest time anyone had run for years there. "He had the makings of always being what he is now."
7NEWS
an hour ago
- 7NEWS
AFL world in mourning after death of much-loved Melbourne great Brian Dixon
The AFL world is in mourning after the death of Melbourne great and Australian Football Hall of Famer Brian Dixon, aged 89. Dixon will go down as one of the Demons' greatest ever. The star wingman played 252 games for the club, including five premierships during their golden era in the 1950s and 60s. He won the club best and fairest in 1960 and was named on the wing in the team of the century. When he retired at the end of 1968, Dixon was then Melbourne's games record holder and still sits eighth on the all-time list. Dixon also spent two years as coach of North Melbourne (1971-72), but managed just six wins. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2010. Dixon also enjoyed a successful stint in politics, including being the architect behind the iconic 'Life. Be in it' campaign in Victoria. Melbourne president Brad Green paid tribute to the club great. 'Brian was a great of our club and someone who has left a lasting mark, not just on Melbourne, but on the game as a whole,' Green said. 'He was a five-time premiership player, a life member, a Hall of Fame inductee, and was honoured in the Australian Football Hall of Fame, recognition reserved for the very best our game has seen. 'Brian's football achievements speak for themselves, but his love for the club was just as significant. 'He was proud of our history, and helped shape it, both through his on the field success and his connection to the club in the years that followed. 'On behalf of everyone at the Melbourne Football Club, I want to extend our condolences to his wife Carmel, and to Brian's family and friends.'
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Nathan Cleary is the latest victim of a dodgy ad. It's about to become a police matter
Lawyers acting for Nathan Cleary are exploring civil and criminal proceedings after the Penrith superstar's image was fraudulently used to endorse products without his consent. Cleary, one of Australian sport's biggest names, is constantly in demand from premium brands keen to associate with him. The NSW halfback is selective about which firms he is prepared to partner with to protect his image and focus on football. However, it hasn't stopped several companies from illegally attempting to cash in on his celebrity. Perhaps the most brazen attempt occurred just hours after Wednesday night's State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by Queensland at Accor Stadium. In the adjoining P1 carpark at Homebush, hundreds of punters returned to their cars to find a pamphlet placed on their windshield. It depicted a digitally altered image of Cleary, with his arm draped around a woman – not his current partner, Mary Fowler – apparently spruiking a company selling rugby league-themed car bonnet covers. 'Way to go Blues! I knew this one had rizz! I'm taking this one home!' the flyer says suggestively in bold letters, before adding 'This flyer was printed a week ago.' At no stage did the firm seek permission from Cleary or his management's permission to use his likeness, nor has there been any attempt to compensate him. The image shows Cleary wearing a Blues jersey which appears to have been doctored, given the sponsors depicted aren't those aligned with the team. The lawyer acting for Cleary, Daniel McGirr, said the incident would become a police matter.
