Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Alex de Minaur says he does not study a grand slam draw to check out the likely opposition down the line.
Maybe he really doesn’t. But were the Australian No.1 tempted to glance at his half of the men’s singles at Wimbledon this fortnight he might struggle to keep his imagination under control.
With the shock exit of big-hitting fourth seed Ben Shelton the draw has opened up all the way to the final.
His nemesis, Jannik Sinner, is in the other half, as is seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic. The top seed in de Minaur’s half, French Open champ Alexander Zverev, has yet to pass the fourth round at the grasscourt slam.
A first grand slam semi-final, even a first final, looks on for de Minaur, not least because, as he admitted after his first-round win over Roman Andres Burruchaga, this is the venue where he is most likely to achieve his dreams.
“I’m always excited when it comes to this slam,” he said. “I’ve always felt like my game makes sense on the grass.
“By the end of the clay swing, I always feel mentally fatigued. That transition from clay to grass gives me a new life. Everything starts to make sense again. I can go back to playing more my natural game.
“I’ve played well here in the past. It probably is my best shot at going really deep at a slam.”
First, though, there is Adrian Mannerino to deal with. De Minaur has a 5-1 record against the veteran but that the Frenchman is still in the top 40 aged 38 shows his quality, and he’s always been a handful on the lawns.
“He’s one of the better grass court players we’ve had over the last X amount of years,” said de Minaur.
“He’s an incredibly tricky opponent. We both know how to make each other feel uncomfortable. A lot of our matches, you won’t see a lot of topspin. There’s going to be a very low net clearance, a lot of flat shots, a lot of low balls. The legs are going to feel it.
“It’s about who can execute a little bit better and who’s on their game. He’s not a player that you can get a rhythm with. I’ve got to be up for it from the very start because if not, it is not easy.”
Maybe de Minaur, who leads a quartet of Australians into action on day four, including Serena Williams’ conqueror Maya Joint, is right to take it one match at a time.
Focus on Mannarino, then see who’s next.
WHO THE AUSTRALIANS WILL FACE IN THE SECOND ROUND ON WIMBLEDON’S DAY FOUR
(number denotes seeding) (Q – qualifier) (WC – wildcard)
Men’s Singles
5-Alex de Minaur v Adrian Mannarino (FRA)
James Duckworth v 9-Flavio Cobolli (ITA)
Women’s singles:
Maya Joint v 29-Alexandra Eala (PHI)
Kim Birrell v 17-Sorana Cirstea (ROU)
