In a dazzling display of skill and determination, Alex de Minaur has etched his name in tennis history by defeating the World No.1 Novak Djokovic in straight sets, securing Australia’s spot in the United Cup semifinals.
As doubts loomed in the air, de Minaur took the court with an unwavering confidence that set the tone for a thrilling showdown on Wednesday, January 3. The 24-year-old tennis sensation outpaced Djokovic from the very start, clinching a remarkable 6-4, 6-4 victory in just 93 minutes and propelling Australia to a 1-0 lead in the crucial best-of-three-match quarter-final tie.
De Minaur’s explosive speed and unparalleled agility proved to be a relentless challenge for Djokovic, who, hampered by wrist pain, struggled to find his rhythm and committed a staggering 31 unforced errors throughout the match. Even after receiving treatment following a break in the ninth game of the first set, Djokovic found no respite from the relentless onslaught orchestrated by de Minaur.
The turning point came in the seventh game of the second set when Djokovic, under pressure, succumbed to a double fault, handing de Minaur his second crucial break. Despite some nervy moments, including a double fault on three match points at 40-0 and 5-4 up, de Minaur demonstrated resilience and composure.
With a fourth match point in his grasp, de Minaur seized the opportunity, securing the historic win as Djokovic sent a backhand long. The stadium erupted in cheers as de Minaur basked in the glory of the biggest triumph of his career.
The win marks de Minaur’s inaugural triumph against a reigning world No.1, something that wasn’t lost on the rising tennis star.
“It’s extremely special. Novak is an unbelievable competitor,” de Minaur said after shattering Djokovic’s 43-match, six-year winning streak in Australia
“It feels surreal, it feels amazing. I’m happy to do it here in Perth and Australia.”
Djokovic was humble in defeat, conceding that injury affected his level of play during the match while congratulating de Minaur on his win.
“It did have quite an impact (tonight), particularly on the forehand and serve,” Djokovic said.
“Again, I don’t want to be spending too much time talking about it and taking away credit from de Minaur.
“I mean, he was just very solid, as he always is. Congrats to him, to the Australian team.”
The tennis community quickly erupted in celebration following de Minaur’s win, taking to social media to shower the Aussie with praise for his efforts.
The tennis world now awaits in anticipation as Australia advances to the United Cup semifinals, with de Minaur’s stellar performance sending shockwaves through the sport and cementing his status as a rising star on the international tennis stage.
-with AAP.