'Demon' back to winning ways in 'important' Aussie duel
On the face of it, this was just an exhibition tennis match against a friend, amid champagne corks popping in an intimate arena, with absolutely nothing riding on it except perhaps a bit of Sydneysider bragging rights.
But Alex de Minaur reckoned it was much more than that.
Indeed, he felt his 6-3 6-4 victory over Alexei Popyrin in a duel between Australia's top two tennis men at the now-traditional pre-Wimbledon Boodles invitation event on Thursday was just the pick-me-up he needed after his grass-court plans went awry.
"I think this was a very important match for me to kind of get back on track, to get a match played in competitive spirit, and kind of try to put in place all the things I've been working on, and feel those match-type nerves," said de Minaur, glad to get back to winning ways for the first time since his shock French Open exit.
After the second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at Roland Garros nearly a month ago, which ended with him pouring his heart out about feeling mentally burnt out and physically drained, de Minaur's only grass-court outing in the past month had been his defeat by eventual finalist Jiri Lehecka at Queen's.
And even if his first grass-court clash with Aussie No.2 Popyrin was a world away from a tour event, played in the plush surrounds of a private club north of London, and watched by a couple of thousand who'd come for the hospitality as much as the tennis, 'Demon' was adamant it had been a significant work-out.
"Yeah, going into Wimbledon now, I feel ready and excited to compete," said the world No.11.
"I love this time of the year. It's always a lot of fun. I think it's a surface that suits my game-style really well and, hopefully I can come play some good tennis in the coming weeks."
Asked what would be key next week, de Minaur, a quarter-finalist last year, added: "Being mentally refreshed, being ready to play and ultimately trusting the game.
"In the past, I've played some great tennis at Wimbledon, so it's about trusting myself and knowing that I can go out there and do it, just committing to my shots."
De Minaur, at No.11, and Popyrin, at No.20, are the two Australian men seeded for the Championships and will learn their opponents in Friday's draw.
Popyrin didn't sound too concerned about his defeat after he had enjoyed a much more successful week at Queen's than de Minaur, eventually losing in a tight affair with British home favourite Jack Draper.
He hadn't exactly had the most demanding of warm-ups at Stoke Park when he had a hit before the match with Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs. Doubtless, he felt that was just magic.
On the face of it, this was just an exhibition tennis match against a friend, amid champagne corks popping in an intimate arena, with absolutely nothing riding on it except perhaps a bit of Sydneysider bragging rights.
But Alex de Minaur reckoned it was much more than that.
Indeed, he felt his 6-3 6-4 victory over Alexei Popyrin in a duel between Australia's top two tennis men at the now-traditional pre-Wimbledon Boodles invitation event on Thursday was just the pick-me-up he needed after his grass-court plans went awry.
"I think this was a very important match for me to kind of get back on track, to get a match played in competitive spirit, and kind of try to put in place all the things I've been working on, and feel those match-type nerves," said de Minaur, glad to get back to winning ways for the first time since his shock French Open exit.
After the second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at Roland Garros nearly a month ago, which ended with him pouring his heart out about feeling mentally burnt out and physically drained, de Minaur's only grass-court outing in the past month had been his defeat by eventual finalist Jiri Lehecka at Queen's.
And even if his first grass-court clash with Aussie No.2 Popyrin was a world away from a tour event, played in the plush surrounds of a private club north of London, and watched by a couple of thousand who'd come for the hospitality as much as the tennis, 'Demon' was adamant it had been a significant work-out.
"Yeah, going into Wimbledon now, I feel ready and excited to compete," said the world No.11.
"I love this time of the year. It's always a lot of fun. I think it's a surface that suits my game-style really well and, hopefully I can come play some good tennis in the coming weeks."
Asked what would be key next week, de Minaur, a quarter-finalist last year, added: "Being mentally refreshed, being ready to play and ultimately trusting the game.
"In the past, I've played some great tennis at Wimbledon, so it's about trusting myself and knowing that I can go out there and do it, just committing to my shots."
De Minaur, at No.11, and Popyrin, at No.20, are the two Australian men seeded for the Championships and will learn their opponents in Friday's draw.
Popyrin didn't sound too concerned about his defeat after he had enjoyed a much more successful week at Queen's than de Minaur, eventually losing in a tight affair with British home favourite Jack Draper.
He hadn't exactly had the most demanding of warm-ups at Stoke Park when he had a hit before the match with Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs. Doubtless, he felt that was just magic.
On the face of it, this was just an exhibition tennis match against a friend, amid champagne corks popping in an intimate arena, with absolutely nothing riding on it except perhaps a bit of Sydneysider bragging rights.
But Alex de Minaur reckoned it was much more than that.
Indeed, he felt his 6-3 6-4 victory over Alexei Popyrin in a duel between Australia's top two tennis men at the now-traditional pre-Wimbledon Boodles invitation event on Thursday was just the pick-me-up he needed after his grass-court plans went awry.
"I think this was a very important match for me to kind of get back on track, to get a match played in competitive spirit, and kind of try to put in place all the things I've been working on, and feel those match-type nerves," said de Minaur, glad to get back to winning ways for the first time since his shock French Open exit.
After the second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at Roland Garros nearly a month ago, which ended with him pouring his heart out about feeling mentally burnt out and physically drained, de Minaur's only grass-court outing in the past month had been his defeat by eventual finalist Jiri Lehecka at Queen's.
And even if his first grass-court clash with Aussie No.2 Popyrin was a world away from a tour event, played in the plush surrounds of a private club north of London, and watched by a couple of thousand who'd come for the hospitality as much as the tennis, 'Demon' was adamant it had been a significant work-out.
"Yeah, going into Wimbledon now, I feel ready and excited to compete," said the world No.11.
"I love this time of the year. It's always a lot of fun. I think it's a surface that suits my game-style really well and, hopefully I can come play some good tennis in the coming weeks."
Asked what would be key next week, de Minaur, a quarter-finalist last year, added: "Being mentally refreshed, being ready to play and ultimately trusting the game.
"In the past, I've played some great tennis at Wimbledon, so it's about trusting myself and knowing that I can go out there and do it, just committing to my shots."
De Minaur, at No.11, and Popyrin, at No.20, are the two Australian men seeded for the Championships and will learn their opponents in Friday's draw.
Popyrin didn't sound too concerned about his defeat after he had enjoyed a much more successful week at Queen's than de Minaur, eventually losing in a tight affair with British home favourite Jack Draper.
He hadn't exactly had the most demanding of warm-ups at Stoke Park when he had a hit before the match with Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs. Doubtless, he felt that was just magic.
On the face of it, this was just an exhibition tennis match against a friend, amid champagne corks popping in an intimate arena, with absolutely nothing riding on it except perhaps a bit of Sydneysider bragging rights.
But Alex de Minaur reckoned it was much more than that.
Indeed, he felt his 6-3 6-4 victory over Alexei Popyrin in a duel between Australia's top two tennis men at the now-traditional pre-Wimbledon Boodles invitation event on Thursday was just the pick-me-up he needed after his grass-court plans went awry.
"I think this was a very important match for me to kind of get back on track, to get a match played in competitive spirit, and kind of try to put in place all the things I've been working on, and feel those match-type nerves," said de Minaur, glad to get back to winning ways for the first time since his shock French Open exit.
After the second-round loss to Alexander Bublik at Roland Garros nearly a month ago, which ended with him pouring his heart out about feeling mentally burnt out and physically drained, de Minaur's only grass-court outing in the past month had been his defeat by eventual finalist Jiri Lehecka at Queen's.
And even if his first grass-court clash with Aussie No.2 Popyrin was a world away from a tour event, played in the plush surrounds of a private club north of London, and watched by a couple of thousand who'd come for the hospitality as much as the tennis, 'Demon' was adamant it had been a significant work-out.
"Yeah, going into Wimbledon now, I feel ready and excited to compete," said the world No.11.
"I love this time of the year. It's always a lot of fun. I think it's a surface that suits my game-style really well and, hopefully I can come play some good tennis in the coming weeks."
Asked what would be key next week, de Minaur, a quarter-finalist last year, added: "Being mentally refreshed, being ready to play and ultimately trusting the game.
"In the past, I've played some great tennis at Wimbledon, so it's about trusting myself and knowing that I can go out there and do it, just committing to my shots."
De Minaur, at No.11, and Popyrin, at No.20, are the two Australian men seeded for the Championships and will learn their opponents in Friday's draw.
Popyrin didn't sound too concerned about his defeat after he had enjoyed a much more successful week at Queen's than de Minaur, eventually losing in a tight affair with British home favourite Jack Draper.
He hadn't exactly had the most demanding of warm-ups at Stoke Park when he had a hit before the match with Harry Potter film star Jason Isaacs. Doubtless, he felt that was just magic.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Alex de Minaur heads to Wimbledon relaxed, refreshed and with 'no excuses'
Alex de Minaur says the downcast figure he posed in Paris is a thing of the past, replaced by a rejuvenated optimist at Wimbledon who has put himself first. But Australia's main man is not about to make any predictions about another stirring run to match his surge to the quarters last year at Wimbledon, saying: "It's now up to my tennis to do the talking." Questions have swirled around de Minaur's form and confidence since 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. Back at another grand slam after a revitalising break in London that featured golf, relaxation around Wimbledon with fiancee Katie Boulter and a lone exhibition win over fellow Aussie Alexei Popyrin, de Minaur sounded a bit more like his normal chipper self. He admitted 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 quarterfinals. "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 will begin his campaign on Tuesday against Spain's world number 74 Roberto Carballes Baena. De Minaur took an enforced break after the disappointment of the French Open, something he believes has put him in a much better position for the season's third major. "I was able to take a step back, accept what has happened, and put myself first for the first time in a while, and I think that was quite crucial," he said. "And even though it didn't bring out the result I wanted in Queen's [being 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, 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 eventually took a toll. "I think I speak for the vast majority of tennis players [by saying] that ideally what we would like to have is a shorter schedule that allows us to have a proper off-season," he said. "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." AAP
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
I'm good with Coco: Sabalenka buries Gauff fall-out
Wimbledon top seed Aryna Sabalenka says she has cleared the air with Coco Gauff after she raised eyebrows with her remarks in the aftermath of her French Open final loss to the American. An emotional Sabalenka described the match as the "worst tennis" she had played for many months and that her mistakes, rather than Gauff's excellence, had been the decisive factor. Sabalenka wrote to Gauff to apologise soon after, labelling her remarks "unprofessional" and the two rivals were seen chatting happily on the Wimbledon practice courts this week. "We've always been really good with Coco. Honestly, as I said in the statement and I messaged to her, I didn't really want to offend her," said Sabalenka, 27, who is aiming for her first Wimbledon title. "I was just completely, like, upset with myself, and emotions got over me. I just completely lost it. "Of course, she's got my respect. She knew it. She knows it. I'm happy that she was, like, 'yeah, it's all good, don't worry.' I was talking, we are good, we are friends. I hope the US media can be easy on me right now. "I did what I did. I get what I deserved, I believe. It was a tough time for me," she added, saying she has immersed herself in reading books to take her mind off her Paris heartache. Gauff won that error-strewn French final 6-7(5-7) 6-2 6-4 and is seeded No.2 at Wimbledon and the likelihood is that their compelling rivalry could continue in the final in a fortnight. Asked whether she would relish the chance to avenge the loss by beating Gauff in the Wimbledon final, Sabalenka sounded unsure. "I don't know, in this case maybe I don't want to see Coco if I make it to the finals. But if she's going to be there, I'm happy because I want to get the revenge!", said Sabalenka, who starts on Monday against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine Gauff has an added reason to achieve Wimbledon success, the completion of a rare Channel Slam. The last woman to achieve the Channel Slam -- winning Wimbledon and the French Open in the same year -- was Serena Williams, who accomplished the feat in 2002 and 2015. The 21-year-old Gauff, who became the first American woman since Williams in 2015 to win on the Roland Garros clay, said: "I understand why it (a Channel Slam) hasn't been done that often. Except I guess Carlos (Alcaraz), he makes it look pretty easy. Novak (Djokovic), too. I didn't realise it was 10 years since Serena.I would love to do that." Meanwhile Jessica Pegula showed she could be a Wimbledon contender as she beat five-time major champion Iga Swiatek 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Bad Homburg Open. With agencies
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'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." 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." 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." 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."
