Todd Woodbridge, Sam Stosur, Mark Philippoussis and Alicia Molik are all impressed with Alex de Minaur’s kind at Wimbledon 2024.
London, Nice Britain, 10 July 2024 | Leigh Rogers
Many former greats of Australian tennis are on the All England Membership this week, watching on with satisfaction as Alex de Minaur enjoys a career-best Wimbledon run.
We requested them to share their ideas on De Minaur’s efficiency to this point and fee his probabilities in opposition to world No.2 Novak Djokovic within the quarterfinals.
Todd Woodbridge
“I believe he’s obtained presumably the perfect probability he’s had in his profession to beat one in every of these massive guys in a Slam,” mentioned Woodbridge, a Wimbledon 1997 singles semifinalist.
“He actually has performed some nice tennis. (His fourth spherical) was actually spectacular, as a result of Arthur Fils can blow you away for those who give him that chance, so tactically he performed actually, actually sensible. I suppose the problem is developing match, however by all accounts, he’s positive.”
> READ: De Minaur battles into singles quarterfinals at Wimbledon 2024
The ten-time Wimbledon doubles champion famous that Djokovic’s confidence gave the impression to be rising, which might make him even more durable to beat.
“Alex goes to should play the match of his life, however he has overwhelmed him. He’s been in a quarterfinal earlier than. All the variables of expertise are in his favour,” Woodbridge mentioned. “It’s simply whether or not he can flip up and play, as I mentioned, the match of his life.”
An improved serving efficiency might increase De Minaur’s probabilities, in keeping with the previous world No.1 doubles participant.
“The one ingredient of his sport that hasn’t been on level is first-serve percentages,” Woodbridge mentioned. “He’s giving too many alternatives for the opponent on second serve. Novak is likely one of the biggest returners of all time, so he’s going to make the most of that. That’s in all probability the important thing.
“The opposite half is understanding the way you’re going to make Novak transfer. You’ve obtained to check him all the time together with his motion.”
Sam Stosur
Stosur, who scored six top-10 wins throughout her illustrious Grand Slam singles profession, believes De Minaur can beat Djokovic.
The US Open 2011 singles champion needs to see De Minaur take his probabilities and play with self-belief.
“I believe he’s enjoying nicely sufficient in the mean time that there’s going to be alternatives,” mentioned Australia’s Billie Jean King Cup captain.
“It’s simply whether or not he steps up in these moments, absolutely believes and commits to what he must do in that second when he does get a chance. If he doesn’t, you in all probability know what’s going to occur. So, there’s form of no different alternative than to again your self.
“He’s going to should play exceptionally nicely, however there’s possibly no higher alternative for him.”
> READ: De Minaur prepared for Djokovic showdown at Wimbledon 2024
Mark Philippoussis
“In fact he can beat Djokovic. He’s obtained the sport and the mentality to go in opposition to anybody,” mentioned Philippoussis, a Wimbledon finalist in 2003.
“However Djokovic’s confidence is gaining with each match that he’s enjoying I imagine. I believe his confidence has additionally grown together with his knee.
“(However) if you wish to win a Grand Slam, you’ve obtained to play the perfect on the planet and beat the perfect, and this man is that.”
The 2-time Davis Cup champion is happy to see De Minaur adopting a extra aggressive mindset this season.
“He’s enjoying some nice tennis, a few of the finest tennis of his profession,” Philippoussis mentioned. “He’s inside the highest 10, he’s enjoying with plenty of confidence, he’s persevering with to place strain on the blokes. We all know the center he has and the pace he has across the court docket, however the good factor is, which I imagine is an enormous a part of him moving into the highest 10, is he’s being extra aggressive.
“He wanted to be stepping in and I believe he is aware of that he wants to start out creating these weapons to place the strain on, not simply operating and having unbelievable protection. He’s obtained some nice offense and grass fits his sport.”
> READ: De Minaur “feeling fairly first rate” after damage scare at Wimbledon 2024
Philippoussis, who superior to Wimbledon’s second week six instances in his profession, doesn’t imagine De Minaur’s damage scare within the fourth spherical can be a difficulty.
“It’s regular for the second week at Wimbledon to be feeling niggling issues in your muscle mass, as a result of it’s robust the grass, you’re getting down low and coming into the online,” he defined. “It’s extra on the muscle mass and the joints on the grass, so I’m positive plenty of individuals could be feeling it now with little issues right here and there.”
Alicia Molik
“It’s fairly phenomenal, isn’t it?” Molik mentioned of De Minaur’s current performances. “I believe he’s a very completely different participant now that he has full confidence.”
Molik, a former top-10 singles participant and two-time Grand Slam doubles champion, believes De Minaur’s sport is well-suited for grass-court success.
“He’s very a lot in the identical mould as (Carlos) Alcaraz by way of motion,” she mentioned.
“(He’s a) phenomenal mover on the grass and simply his capacity, I believe, to adapt as nicely, to make use of his chip and slice (helps him). He’s only a actually compact participant together with his swings, which is why I believe he offers so many opponents a lot problem. He simply shuts them down with time.”
> READ: Jordan Thompson displays on Alex de Minaur’s “unreal” rise
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