Alex de Minaur defeats Flavio Cobolli to progress to the fourth spherical of his residence Grand Slam for a 3rd consecutive 12 months.
Melbourne, Australia , 19 January 2024 | Vivienne Christie
Identified for the wheels that earned him the Velocity Demon moniker, Alex de Minaur has lifted a gear at Australian Open 2024.
With a straight-sets win over Flavio Cobolli at John Cain Area, the No.1 Australian moved easily into the event’s second week.
Combining his trademark weapons of tenacity and athleticism, De Minaur defeated the Italian qualifier 6-3 6-3 6-1 to set a fourth-round assembly with fifth seed Andrey Rublev.
“That is the place the event actually begins,” stated a business-like De Minaur, making no secret of his fierce ambitions at his residence Grand Slam.
“I say this as a result of that is the place I need to be. That is the place the tail finish of the event begins, the second week of Slams.
“I’ve all the time been informed that the primary week of a Slam is to get by nonetheless method you need to, and the second week is while you begin to play your actual tennis.
“Hopefully I can do this. Now the matches … ought to be towards better-ranked opponents. I’m wanting ahead to that.”
De Minaur took two hours and 7 minutes to put on down Cobolli, who was significantly extra harmful than his world No.100 rating urged.
After three dominant wins in qualifying, the 21-year-old had launched a primary Australian Open main-draw marketing campaign with a five-set upset of No.18 seed Nicolas Jarry, earlier than overcoming Pavel Kotov in 4 units.
Armed with a very potent forehand, the artful Cobolli recorded 45 winners in his first match and a equally efficient 41 within the second.
Dealing with De Minaur, nonetheless, the Australian Open debutante was by no means supplied with the chance to provide his finest. The Australian struck a primary blow as he earned the primary break towards Cobolli in an prolonged seventh sport.
Whereas De Minaur didn’t consolidate, he additionally didn’t panic. One other break over the Italian proved a confidence-booster, the No.10 seed lifting a stage to safe the 39-minute first set with an ace.
An epic third sport was the turning level of the second set, with De Minaur securing a 2-1 lead on his ninth break level. With vitality ranges solely rising, he maintained that benefit to shut out the set.
The toll of a sixth match in Melbourne began exhibiting for Cobolli, who was handled for a leg criticism when he trailed 0-3 within the third set.
De Minaur, in contrast, was seemingly rising in vitality as he gained one other break of serve and confidently served out the match, securing victory with a wonderfully positioned forehand, for his 26th winner of the match.
“I in all probability should be feeling the freshest I’ve been getting at this stage of the event,” stated De Minaur, who progressed by the primary spherical when Milos Raonic withdrew by harm, then defeated Matteo Arnaldi in straight units.
“Bodily I’m feeling nice. Now it’s nearly giving all my vitality for what’s to come back.”
Having reached the identical stage of the 2022 and 2023 tournaments, De Minaur turns into the primary Australian to succeed in the fourth spherical of his residence Grand Slam in three consecutive editions since Lleyton Hewitt between 2003 and 2005.
Requested what it could imply to additional emulate the success of his mentor, De Minaur famous the significance of focusing o his personal success.
“To start with, I’ll attempt to get slightly bit higher and beat my private finest, get to a quarterfinals. That’s step one,” he commented.
“I’ve made a pair fourth rounds previously. I possibly have gotten to that time and never performed the kind of match I wished to. I’m hoping I can break that barrier and go one additional.”
Aussies in motion – Australian Open
TODAY’S RESULTS
Males’s singles, third spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) d [Q] Flavio Cobolli (ITA) 6-3 6-3 6-1
Ladies’s singles, third spherical
[9] Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) d [Q] Storm Hunter (AUS) 4-6 7-5 6-3
COMING UP
Males’s singles, fourth spherical
[10] Alex de Minaur (AUS) v [5] Andrey Rublev
> VIEW: Australian Open 2024 males’s singles draw
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