Alex de Minaur is predicting an “absolute battle” with former champion Daniil Medvedev in his quest for a US Open quarter-final berth as he revealed the important thing mindset change that has helped him push by way of to the ultimate 16 in New York.
The conflict comes simply three weeks after the top-ranked Australian took down Medvedev on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion in Toronto, having additionally crushed the Russian in Paris to assert their most up-to-date encounters.
But de Minaur wasn’t positive whether or not that counts for a lot at a grand slam, and the US Open that Medvedev received in 2021, and he was getting ready for a tactical brawl of a match.
“I haven‘t played him in a major yet,” the Australian stated.
“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 sure there’s going to be chances both ways. It’s about who just sticks around and fights to the end and finds a way.
“I am expecting an absolute battle.
“He’s an extremely good tactician and you know whenever you play him you have got to be ready for an absolute chess battle.”
Having made his technique to the second week in New York, de Minaur credited his off-court relationship with girlfriend and fellow professional Katie Boulter for serving to him take care of losses that he used to dwell on for too lengthy.
Boulter misplaced within the third spherical however stays a key a part of de Minaur’s rise to world No.13 on his technique to the US Open.
“A big thing that I admire a lot about Katie is how she acts and how she gets herself up during matches,” he stated 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 doesn’t mind the results. She goes out there competing and enjoys herself. I’ve learned a lot 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 learned that as much as it hurts in the moment, I can get off the court and the more I spend some time with Katie, we’re both able to kind of forget about it and move 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.”
The winner of the conflict between de Minaur and Medvedev will face both unseeded Brit Jack Draper or Russian world No.8 Andrey Rublev for a semi-final spot.
Source: www.news.com.au