Alex de Minaur has revealed he’ll shoot for 2 golds in each singles and doubles on the Paris Olympic Games – and he hopes to heat up at Roland Garros by launching his greatest ever French Open subsequent week.
Australia’s prime participant, who cruelly missed out on Tokyo in 2021 after being struck down with COVID simply earlier than the Games, instructed AAP from Paris that, in addition to his singles bid, he will certainly staff up for a crack at Olympic males’s doubles glory.
Australia might qualify two males’s doubles pairs for the July Olympic event on the Roland Garros clay – however former Wimbledon winner Max Purcell additionally instructed AAP on Friday he’ll in all probability miss the Games as he pursues his ATP tour singles ambitions as a substitute.
“It’s gonna be something different, for sure,” de Minaur mentioned, as he outlined his pleasure on the double quest.
“Last time it was pretty devastating with contracting COVID a couple days prior to Tokyo when I’d been very excited to be a part of it – but, hey, I’ve got myself another chance and I’ll definitely be ready for it this time.
“I’m trying ahead to enjoying singles, enjoying some doubles as effectively. It needs to be very thrilling.”
De Minaur’s Olympic men’s partner is not yet finalised but it could be veteran Matt Ebden, the world No.3 doubles player, who will definitely be playing in both the men’s and mixed events.
“I’m unsure what is going on to occur (with the pairings) but, however I do know will probably be singles and doubles for me,” confirmed de Minaur.
Purcell, who’s forged a brilliant Davis Cup partnership with Ebden since their 2022 Wimbledon triumph together, explained that, with Olympic singles qualification now likely beyond him with the qualification period up after the French Open, he wouldn’t pursue another crack at doubles.
“If I’m not in singles, I would not simply go for doubles,” said Purcell, who reckons he would instead concentrate during those Olympic weeks on gathering points at ATP Tour events.
“I’ve had the Olympic expertise (as a late entry in Tokyo in each the singles and doubles) and my goal is to play the subsequent two (Olympics in Los Angeles and Brisbane) that needs to be on onerous courts.
“I just don’t fancy my chances as much on the clay … and you really want to make sure that you’re giving Australia the best chance for a medal.”
Meanwhile, de Minaur could not have sounded extra upbeat about his French Open hopes as he seeks to seal his greatest ever season on clay by changing into the primary Australian since Lleyton Hewitt 17 years in the past to succeed in the second week of the singles.
“That’s definitely the goal. I’m yet to go past the second round here in Paris, but I don’t see why I can’t play well here. I’m looking forward to putting some of my best tennis together and really going on a run,” mentioned the world No.11, who faces rising American teen Alex Michelsen within the first spherical.
“It’s been a productive clay-court swing for me and I’m probably in the best shape coming into Paris that I’ve been in recent years. So, hopefully, I can show that level on the court.
“I feel there is not any purpose why I can not get to the quarter-finals in any slam. It’s all about simply bringing your greatest tennis on these two weeks, and that is undoubtedly the objective,” added de Minaur, who’s made the last-eight at a serious simply as soon as on the 2020 US Open.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
