The legendary Ken Rosewall is watching on proudly as Alex de Minaur returns to the sector named in his honour for the United Cup semifinals.
6 January 2024 | Andrew Eichenholz
One of many tales of the United Cup has been Australia’s surge to the semi-finals, led by Alex de Minaur. The Australian thrilled his dwelling followers by upsetting World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Perth.
Now in Sydney, De Minaur will attempt to replicate his success inside Ken Rosewall Area, which traditionally has been his favorite courtroom. Its namesake, Worldwide Tennis Corridor of Famer Ken Rosewall, has been impressed by De Minaur’s rise.
“Alex has all the mandatory elements of the sport that’s going to enhance and he’s proven that actually prior to now 12 months,” Rosewall informed ATPTour.com.
“His sport has type of come as much as one other degree, with some good wins that he’s had extra just lately, and simply how properly he’s enjoying. The little bit of additional confidence that he’s put in his sport to offer him some extra variation is actually making him one of many new gamers and one of many sturdy gamers of the boys’s circuit.”
De Minaur is No. 11 within the ATP Stay Rankings and can crack the Prime 10 if he defeats Alexander Zverev on Saturday night.
“He deserves it as a result of he’s labored exhausting and I believe if he will get that top a rating, if he doesn’t get it at this time or tomorrow it’s going to come back quickly sufficient as a result of he’s that good a participant,” Rosewall mentioned. “His gradual enchancment goes to assist him be one of many high gamers.”
One similarity De Minaur and Rosewall share is their stature. Rosewall was known as “Muscle groups” due to his lack of them. De Minaur stands 183 centimetres tall, however that has not stopped him from turning into among the finest gamers on the planet.
“Measurement helps. I imply, there’s actually elements of this sport of tennis that it helps massive gamers, 6’3″ or 6’5″, [like] service motions. It’s a terrific a part of their sport the place they get many straightforward factors due to their nice serving movement,” Rosewall mentioned. “However look, Alex’s serve will not be weak by any stretch of the creativeness. And I believe he’s gained extra confidence in his serving means with the remainder of his sport.
“He’s a six-footer. He’s not small. The floor that a lot of the tournaments are performed on now are high-bouncing surfaces. However Alex is that sort of an athlete the place he can transfer so properly. Not that he has any out-standing weaknesses in any respect, however possibly a little bit of peak would assist. However I don’t suppose it’s needed for him to be the perfect participant on the planet.”
Staff competitors usually brings the perfect out of De Minaur. In 2020 he pushed Rafael Nadal in a memorable three-setter on the ATP Cup and one 12 months in the past he defeated the Spanish lefty on the United Cup.
“I believe he enjoys enjoying in Australia,” Rosewall mentioned. “I believe he’s very enthusiastic to be with the Australian boys and so they all get alongside properly collectively despite the fact that they should play one another every so often. However Alex is sweet to get together with and definitely very talked-about.”
It’s becoming that De Minaur has the chance to crack the Prime 10 at Ken Rosewall Area, the place in 2018 he reached his first ATP Tour closing because the No. 167 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings. The next 12 months he claimed his maiden tour-level crown on the identical courtroom.
“I suppose I’m fortunate that he’s carried out properly enjoying right here,” Rosewall mentioned. “He’s mentioned many occasions that he likes the floor, likes the courtroom, likes the stadium. So if it helps him play properly, that’s good. I admire him saying some good feedback in regards to the stadium.”
What does Rosewall consider it’s going to take for De Minaur to take even one other step and attain the very high of the game?
“I believe it’ll simply are available in time. He’s proven that he’s enjoying higher and getting higher outcomes, actually good outcomes, with a bit extra variation in his sport,” Rosewall mentioned. “It’s straightforward for me to say, ‘Effectively, you’ve obtained to get extra variation’, however there are such a lot of good gamers round that it’s important to be in good kind on a regular basis to retain and preserve your rating.”
Story republished with the permission of atptour.com
#Rosewall #Minaur #sport #degree #January #Information #Information #Options #Information #Occasions