Alex de Minaur has a triumph over the legendary Rafael Nadal on clay but he clinched his most important victory yet on the surface when eclipsing powerful German Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the second week of the French Open for the first time.
The Australian took another significant step forward in his career when fighting back to defeat the in-form Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3 in 2hr 53m in an interrupted match as the miserable weather that has plagued Paris this week struck again on Saturday.
De Minaur had never progressed beyond the second round at Roland Garros previously, but he has looked an improved player on the surface throughout the entire European swing from the moment he pushed world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a quarterfinal in Monte Carlo.
His reward for the breakthrough is another clash at grand slam level against three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev, who edged him in four sets a brutal clash in New York in the same round last year. At stake is a spot in the quarterfinals.
In a clash pitting the David-sized de Minaur against a Goliath in Struff, the No. 11 seed was on the back foot in the infancy of the match as the German thundered serves and flashed groundstrokes in an impressive opening.
The Sydneysider eventually conceded the critical break at 4-all when erring on the forehand wing repeatedly while trying to press.
He soon found himself in trouble in the second set as well when dropping serve in the third game, with girlfriend Katie Boulter among those looking on with some anxiety.
But from that moment on the Davis Cup star was the superior player as he adjusted to the pace of the Struff game and began to work his taller rival around the court.
After levelling the third round match on Crt 14, there was a brief hiccup on the court – de Minaur dropped his level momentarily and his first service game as a result – and then a longer delay lasting more than four hours as rain set in 1hr 45min into the intriguing clash.
When play resumed at 5.30pm in Paris, the recent Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinalist produced some scintillating tennis to retrieve the service break and then ran away with the third set by reeling off the last four games.
In the infancy of the 4th set de Minaur struck again with magnificent court craft, repeatedly dragging his 24-year-old rival forward before whipping superb topspin lobs over the top of last year’s Madrid Masters finalist.
Struff, who has matured into a fine player, had chances to retrieve the break but the defence of de Minaur was outstanding as he continued to defy his older rival.
The 41st ranked German launched one final challenge with de Minaur serving at 4-3, but the Monte Carlo-based Australian was able to save three break points, one with a deft forehand drop shot, before breaking again to cap a brilliant performance.
Source Agencies
