How this Aussie tennis star has won the nation's heart
Australia’s new favourite tennis star Alex de Minaur wants to be known as a relentless fighter that goes “til the end” at the Australian Open.
At just 19, we have watched his career being taken to extreme heights – and in just a few short months he’s won the nation’s heart.
He rose to prominence during the Australian summer of 2018 and ended the year as the top-ranked men’s player.
With a brilliant start to 2019 on Wednesday night, he beat Swiss qualifier Henri Laaksonen in his 7th consecutive win.
Soon he will come head to head for the third time with 17-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
de Minaur’s new-found fame has come as a surprise to him too, saying nothing has really changed for him.
“It’s a different position for me, a position I’m not really used to,” he said. “It’s sort of come out of nowhere. It’s been an unbelievable year. I’m enjoying every second of it.”
While everything is changing in his sporting career, de Minaur insists he’s still the same kid as he was before.
“Look honestly I just do the same old things; the same things that I did three years ago, four years ago,” he told reporters.
“I still go have an acai bowl in the morning. I do the same things a 19-year-old kid would do.”
The Aussie teen will face Nadal again, knowing all too well what he is up against. This time, he says he hopes to avenge his 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 loss on centre court at the All England Court.
“I feel like I learnt a lot from that experience. I’m really looking forward to just having fun, going out there and just competing,” he said.
“Hopefully this time around I can go a bit more relaxed, just focus on myself, try to play some good tennis.”
However, for Alex he is just excited to be playing the game.
“I’m very fortunate to be in the position that I am, to be able to play the sport that I love every single day. I’m never taking that for granted. I’m just enjoying every single day.”
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