Loved-up Alex de Minaur has credited his tennis-playing girlfriend Katie Boulter for offering a recent perspective because the Australian prepares for a high-stakes US Open showdown with Daniil Medvedev.
De Minaur and third-seeded Medvedev will conflict for a quarter-final berth on Tuesday (AEST) simply three weeks after the Spain-based Sydneysider took down the Russian en path to his maiden ATP Masters 1000 closing in Toronto.
That quarter-final triumph in Canada was de Minaur’s fourth top-10 scalp of the yr and got here 10 months after he additionally beat Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion and former world No.1, for the primary time in Paris.
One of essentially the most intense opponents on tour, de Minaur says it is no coincidence his tennis is flourishing alongside a cheerful off-court relationship.
The 24-year-old has been relationship Brit Boulter since 2020 and the 2 have turn out to be one among tennis’s energy {couples}, with each making runs in New York.
De Minaur reckons his companion has taught him to not take defeats too closely, one thing he is struggled with up to now.
“A big thing that I admire a lot about Katie is how she acts and how she gets herself up during matches,” he mentioned after Boulter bowed out within the third spherical at Flushing Meadows.
“Her philosophy is something that I envy in a way. She is very positive. She doesn’t take tennis matches for granted.
“She does not thoughts the outcomes. She goes on the market competing and enjoys herself. I’ve discovered lots from that.
“To be honest, I’m probably on the other spectrum. I live and die by the sword and matches do hurt me in ways.
“Over the years, I’ve discovered that as a lot because it hurts within the second, I can get off the court docket and the extra I spend a while with Katie, we’re each capable of type of neglect about it and transfer on.
“And it’s helped me a lot to not have to linger with some of these matches. I’ve been able to turn the page and move on and look forward to the next challenge.”
De Minaur’s subsequent problem is a giant one.
As effectively as denying Novak Djokovic the primary calendar-year grand slam sweep with a brutal straight-sets mauling within the closing two years in the past in New York, the Russian additionally pushed Rafael Nadal to 5 units within the 2019 title decider.
Medvedev is certainly probably the most formidable hard-court gamers within the business.
“He’s an extreme kind of counter puncher, a defensive specialist who finds ways to bait opponents into playing the game style he wants,” de Minaur mentioned.
“He’s an extremely good tactician and you know whenever you play him you have got to be ready for an absolute chess battle.”
While drawing confidence from his two wins over the world No.3, de Minaur is not sure if they are going to have an effect on Medvedev in a best-of-five-set tussle.
“I haven’t played him in a major yet,” the Australian mentioned.
“So this is going to be a new experience for both of us. If anything, it’s just going to be a long match.
“I’m positive there’s going to be possibilities each methods. It’s about who simply sticks round and fights to the tip and finds a method.
“I am expecting an absolute battle.”
The winner will face both unseeded Brit Jack Draper or Russian world No.8 Andrey Rublev for a semi-final spot.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
