Australian tennis sensation Alex de Minaur is leaving no stone unturned as he powers into the third round of the Australian Open, declaring that he has “got more to give” after a commanding victory over Matteo Arnaldi.
De Minaur showcased his prowess on Wednesday, January 17 by dispatching Arnaldi with ease, securing a 6-3, 6-0, 6-3 victory in precisely two hours. The win marked de Minaur’s fifth consecutive appearance in the last 32 of his home Grand Slam.
“Matteo, he’s a hell of a player, a very exciting player who’s got a lot of firepower,” de Minaur said of his opponent following the match.
“He has a very, very high level. I just had to be solid here, use the crowd, try to stay focused, and I’m very happy to get the win today.”
The victory had added significance for de Minaur, who sought revenge against Arnaldi for the Italian’s win over Australia in last year’s Davis Cup final. The Australian sensation expressed his determination to make amends, and he did so in spectacular fashion by ruthlessly reeling off 10 successive games mid-match.
“It’s no secret it was heartbreaking at the end of the year, losing to Italy in the Davis Cup final,” he said.
“But I told the boys we’re going to be back there, we’re going to get another chance, and today was a little bit of revenge for Australia and I’m happy to be in the next round.”
De Minaur’s form this year has been nothing short of impressive, remaining unbeaten after notable victories over top-tier players like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Carlos Alcaraz. As he gears up to face 21-year-old qualifier Flavio Cobolli in the third round, de Minaur reflects on his performances while hinting that there’s still more to come.
“I’m always going to be my harshest critic,” de Minaur said.
“That’s never going to change, doesn’t matter where I am in the world or what I’m doing.
“I do think I’ve got more to give and I really, really would like to show what I’m capable of.”
Despite an impressive start to the tournament, de Minaur acknowledges that he hasn’t reached his peak level yet. Looking ahead, he vows to raise the bar even further in pursuit of a spot in the last 16 for a third consecutive year.
“So far I have done what I needed to do to win the matches. It hasn’t been probably the prettiest of levels or my best level,” he revealed.
“I played two opponents where maybe I haven’t been allowed to be as aggressive as I would like because they’ve got a lot of firepower.
“But I do think I’ve got a lot more to show.”
De Minaur will face off agaisnt Cobolli on Friday, January 19.
-with AAP.