Alex de Minaur and Ajla Tomljanovic will spearhead Australia’s United Cup singles clashes, however thoughts video games over a blended doubles pairing are solely ramping up.
Perth, 28 December 2023 | Dan Imhoff
The pre-clash jibes between Alex de Minaur and Katie Boulter present no indicators of abating regardless of the Australian asserting he’s unlikely to characteristic in opposition to his off-court associate within the blended doubles on Friday.
On the eve of Australia’s opening showdown in opposition to Nice Britain at RAC Enviornment, De Minaur solely fuelled Boulter’s assertion that his announcement was extra thoughts video games than a binding declaration.
“Effectively, you by no means know till you signal on the dotted line, come that blended,” De Minaur mentioned. “I might be an choice. I’ve performed blended previously … with Katie. So I do know all her weaknesses.
“I’ve watched sufficient of her matches to know the spots to be attacking. However yeah, if we step out on courtroom, it’s simply all enterprise.”
John Millman, competing in his ultimate Australian summer season of tennis, warned his teammate such speak of weaknesses may have wider-reaching implications after Boulter earlier instructed the announcement was “a double bluff”.
“My missus doesn’t have any weaknesses. That’s fairly courageous of you to say that,” Millman mentioned. “You’re in hassle. (Alex) may be sleeping on the pullout in my room tonight.”
Decided to stroll the speak in his singles earlier than he shifts his focus to the Australian Open, De Minaur faces two tough opponents in arguably the hardest group at this 12 months’s United Cup.
He begins in opposition to world No.18 Cameron Norrie on Friday earlier than a possible assembly with world No.10 Taylor Fritz on Monday.
Norrie claimed a win over Australia’s main singles cost throughout final 12 months’s United Cup group stage in Sydney, however the outcome was reversed at Toronto the place the Australian went on to achieve his maiden ATP Masters 1000 ultimate in August.
The Brit accepted appreciable floor needed to be coated regardless of the final result on Friday.
“I at all times have powerful matches with Alex. We each know one another fairly effectively,” Norrie mentioned.
“We observe with one another lots … I feel we’re all wanting ahead to taking it to Australia. I feel it’s going to be fairly fascinating to see if Katie truly helps me or not within the match.”
Optimistic at beginning a brand new season in type, following her title run in Brazil in early December, Tomljanovic has a possibility to hold that momentum into her opening stoush in opposition to Boulter earlier than a possible assembly with world No.5 Jessica Pegula on Monday.
It presents an opportunity to assist bury the demons after having missed all the 2023 Australian summer season of tennis as a result of a knee damage.
“I feel the month of January is at all times the month I need to do my greatest,” she mentioned. “That’s by no means modified.
“Having a little bit of day without work simply makes me extra motivated and I feel I’ve performed Katie a couple of occasions, final time on grass, if I’m not mistaken. However she’s coming off her greatest 12 months.
“It’s going to be a very powerful match. She’s acquired an enormous recreation, however yeah, I’m simply wanting ahead to getting on the market and doing my greatest.”
Inevitably drawn into the pre-clash sledging, Tomljanovic delivered a refined reminder of the depth in her staff.
Given Australia boasts two top-five doubles gamers in world No.1 Storm Sanders and world No.4 Matt Ebden, in addition to world No.17 Ellen Perez, the 30-year-old expects De Minaur shall be left to focus solely on his singles.
“Alex will do his factor first, after which that shall be sufficient,” she quipped.
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