There are two things you can always expect of Alex de Minaur in a high-stakes competitive setting – his trademark speed will be a factor, and so too will his famous fight.
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The Australian, seeded No.8 at his home Grand Slam, required both those qualities as he managed the emerging threat of Botic van de Zandschulp to move into the second round of AO 2025 on Tuesday night.
“As I’ve said before, I know that as soon as I walk on this court, every single one of you guys has my back, so I’m going to do my best from the very first point to the last,” De Minaur told an adoring Rod Laver Arena audience, having saved two set points in the second set of his 6-1 7-5 6-4 win.
From the outset, De Minaur deftly lived up to his “Speed Demon” moniker as he raced to a 5-0 advantage against the 84th-ranked Dutchman before securing a 26-minute first set.
The 25-year-old appeared on track to maintain that swift momentum as he gained an early break of serve to build a 6-1 3-1 lead.
But Van De Zandschulp is no stranger to an upset, having famously stunned world No.2 Carlos Alcaraz in the second round of the US Open last year.
With his shotmaking starting to damage, Van De Zandschulp levelled in the sixth game and increasingly pressured. Serving at 4-5, a pair of untimely errors saw De Minaur scrambling to defend set points.
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But with his idol and mentor Lleyton Hewitt watching from the on-court Coach Pod, De Minaur inevitably battled. With those set points managed, he turned the tables, securing the second set with an ace.
Firing some brilliant winners – including an unthinkable tweener that had an admiring De Minaur applauding – Van De Zandschulp always challenged. And yet the Aussie remained that little bit stronger, as he utilised his renowned court craft.
Seizing his first break point opportunities, he completed his deft progress with a 13th and final ace. It was among 26 winners in his two hours and 22 minutes on court.
De Minaur can look to a second round meeting with American qualifier Tristan Boyer with confidence from the painstaking preparation invested into his eighth tilt at the Australian Open, where he has achieved his best result with final-16 showings in each of the past three years.
“Honestly what gives me a sense of calm is knowing the amount of work I’ve put in behind the scenes, knowing that I’ve done everything in my power to be ready,” he said.
After a career-best year that saw De Minaur reach the quarterfinal stage of every other Grand Slam, there’s equal assurance in knowing the hip injury that undermined the second half of his season is firmly in the past.
“The body feels great. It’s been a long time since I felt this good and I’m just more than anything, relieved,” he added with a smile.
“I’m happy to move, I’m happy to slide around the court, burn my shoes – it’s a good sign, that one.”