Alex de Minaur has rued dropping his legs after Russian ironman Daniil Medevdev ended the Australian’s US Open marketing campaign with a signature fourth-round victory in New York.
De Minaur performed some impressed attacking tennis early to boost hopes of an upset win earlier than the third-seeded 2021 Open champion powered to a 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 triumph in oppressively scorching situations on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Australia’s world No.13 had been bidding to make the quarter-finals at Flushing Meadows for a second time however could not stick with Medvedev after dropping a decent second set.
“Ultimately, what happened out there was nothing to do with tennis,” de Minaur mentioned.
“It was a little bit to do with just physicality. I had a lot of matches this whole summer without a lot of time off and rest, and it seemed to have caught up with me at this moment.
“It’s most likely the primary time in my profession that health let me down. It’s not one thing that occurs. I again myself each day of the 12 months.
“But with all the matches that I played, my schedule, everything, I got to this point and the small margins, small percentages, are pretty big at this stage and level of competition.”
De Minaur’s departure ends Australia’s participation within the singles, with the 24-year-old having to accept a probable rankings rise to a career-high No.12 subsequent Monday.
Runner-up in 2019 earlier than denying Novak Djokovic a calendar-year grand slam sweep two years in the past, Medvedev advances to an all-Russian quarter-final in opposition to eighth seed Andrey Rublev.
That did not look on the playing cards early in opposition to de Minaur, whose aggressive play had the previous world No.1 rattled and made a repeat of his win over Medvedev in Toronto final month appear a definite chance.
De Minaur received 9 of 9 factors dashing the online and broke Medvedev within the fifth and seventh video games to steam by way of the opening set in 32 minutes.
But a spectacular tweener from Medvedev throughout a 34-shot profitable rally sparked the Russian into motion halfway by way of the second set.
De Minaur needed to battle off 5 break factors to carry for 2-2 however could not get well from 15-40 down serving at 4-5 as Medvedev levelled the match at a set apiece.
The Russian shifted up a gear within the fourth, overpowering de Minaur from the again with two extra breaks to take a two-sets-to-one lead.
It was all however over when de Minaur dropped serve twice extra within the fourth set as Medvedev surged to 5-1 earlier than closing out the competition after two hours and 40 minutes.
“There was no lack of confidence to beat him. I knew what I had to do to hurt him and I showed it until my legs went away,” de Minaur mentioned.
“And then suddenly I had to try and scramble, finding different ways of playing and you can’t do that against a player of the calibre of Daniil.”
Despite his exit, de Minaur is closing in on a top-10 rating for the primary time and stays a reside probability of qualifying for the season-ending ATP finals in Turin.
“I’ve had some great results and I probably could have been higher (in the rankings),” he mentioned.
“There’s still plenty to go – Asia and Davis Cup now. I’m going to be taking the first week of Asia off.
“I want some relaxation, and hopefully I’ll be capable to end the 12 months robust.
“Top 10, Turin; that would be an ideal way to finish the year.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
