Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Alex de Minaur is trusting in his staying power, his concentration levels and determination to make his opponents sweat for every point as it gets down to “crunch time” at Wimbledon.
But Flavio Cobolli, ‘Demon’s’ dangerous and flamboyant last-16 opponent who’s on a high after a breakthrough run to the French Open final, is taking inspiration from an Italian pal, warning he’s ready for another marathon slog on the SW19 lawns.
No.5 seed de Minaur has enjoyed a straightforward run to the fourth round so far, having dropped just one set and been on court for less than six-and-a-half hours, compared to the 10-and-a-half hours it’s taken the 9th seeded Italian to battle there.
With a 2-0 career lead over Cobolli, with his side of the draw opening up nicely and feeling about as fresh and well-prepared as he ever has at this stage of a grand slam, de Minaur must be believing this is his biggest opportunity yet to break his quarter-final ‘ceiling’.
If he can get past Cobolli, he’d meet a wild card in the quarter finals — either Briton Arthur Fery or veteran Grigor Dimitrov.
If he thought the early elimination of Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic had given him “a once in a blue moon opportunity” at the French Open – one which he felt he blew against Jakub Mensik – this must represent the second ‘blue moon’ in a month.
Not that de Minaur would admit that. He’s been bitten far too often at the quarter-final stage, seven times in all. “Don’t look too far ahead. Keep that tunnel vision,” he says to himself.
But there’s no hiding that he’s talking a good game.
“I feel great. It’s getting down to crunch time, I guess. I’m happy with the way I have been playing; the body is feeling great, and I thought against Zach Svajda was probably the best I’ve moved around the court.”
But there were moments when he slacked off against the American, and de Minaur recognised it, saying he now needed to step up.
He’s determined to ensure Cobolli, who felt sick in the early stages of his five-set comeback win over the doughty Karen Khachanov, doesn’t get a moment to relax, and if it comes to the long haul, he’s more than happy.
“I need to remind myself more frequently that best-of-five sets is a complete different beast,” said world no.6 de Minaur.
“I normally get a little bit frustrated if the opponent plays a good set, but what I really should be thinking is that they need to keep that up for three sets in a row. That’s not the easiest task to accomplish.
“Because on the other side is someone who’s going to make him play every single point and is going to make him work.
“Not only are you going to have to feel the ball exceptionally well and hit your targets, but you’re also going to physically have to last the long run.”
That, effectively, is his message to Cobolli – but the exciting Italian shotmaker promises he’s physically at a great level too, ready to play a tournament of marathon matches just like his pal Matteo Arnaldi did en route to the semi-finals in Paris before injury finally caught up with him and he had to withhdraw.
“I feel great,” said the 24-year-old Cobolli after the Khachanov match. “Today I say to the team that ‘I’m the Arnaldi of the Wimbledon’!”
He admitted too many long matches could be damaging in later rounds but added: “Actually, I feel fresh. That’s the most important thing. If I feel like this, I can play also another five hours.”
