Alex de Minaur is in line to affix a few of Australia’s modern-day greats as a a number of Newcombe Medallist at tennis’s evening of nights in Melbourne.
De Minaur is favoured to be topped Australian tennis’s most excellent performer of the 12 months on Monday evening after hovering to the cusp of the world’s prime 10 in 2023.
The 24-year-old reached a career-high No.11 in October, collected his seventh ATP Tour title in Acapulco, made 4 finals and helped Australia to a second straight Davis Cup decider in Spain.
In his most constant season but, de Minaur additionally turned the primary Australian since his idol and Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 to progress to 11 event quarter-finals, made the second week at two of the 4 grand slams, in Melbourne and New York, and stormed into his maiden ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Toronto.
In an distinctive shortlist of six finalists, solely doubles star Storm Hunter might probably deny de Minaur from becoming a member of the ranks of Ash Barty, a four-time Newcombe Medallist, three-time recipient Samantha Stosur and wheelchair wizard Dylan Alcott to have received the award a minimum of twice.
With two WTA title wins partnering Belgian companion Elise Merten and runs to the Wimbledon last and season-ending championship semi-finals, Hunter turned the primary Australian to assert the ladies’s world No.1 doubles rating since Stosur in 2007.
The different 4 nominees are Rinky Hijikata, Alexei Popyrin, Max Purcell and males’s doubles ace Matt Ebden.
Hijikata greater than vindicated his US Open wildcard entry with an impressed cost to the fourth spherical and likewise received the Australian Open doubles title with countryman Jason Kubler.
Popyrin reached a career-high No.39 on the earth after toppling three-time main winner Stan Wawrinka to seize his second ATP title, on clay in Umag.
Purcell additionally broke in to the highest 50 for the primary time following three consecutive Challenger Tour titles and development to a Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time in Cincinnati.
Ebden powered as much as No.4 within the males’s doubles rating and have become the primary Aussie to make the semi-finals of the season-ending ATP Finals since John Peers 5 years in the past.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
