Alex de Minaur has been surging and is on his way into the Top 10, but still, this is not a result I expected to wake up to. A hiccup for #1 Novak Djokovic heading into Melbourne, where he’s been the overwhelming #AusOpen favorite.
"It comes from a lot of people not believing in me": Alex de Minaur reveals source of inspiration behind stunning Djokovic win
ATPThursday, 04 January 2024 at 01:30
Alex de Minaur revealed his inspiration after an incredible triumph over Novak Djokovic by 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the 2024 United Cup. The Australian secured a crucial point, allowing his country to take the lead in the series against the Serbians and ultimately advancing to the semifinals.
After the match, the world No. 12 spoke about the impressive level he displayed and his inspiration during the game: “Well, it comes from a lot of people not believing in me, so I’m just here to prove a lot of people wrong, try to keep on getting better,” he declared in his on-court interview.
"I know that I’m going to get the absolute most out of myself”
De Minaur secured his first-ever victory against Djokovic and his first triumph over a world No. 1 in the best win of his career. He showcased some changes in his game that were crucial to overcoming Djokovic, such as the slice backhand and the dropshot. In his own words, “Ultimately, I’m never gonna be the biggest or the strongest guy, so I’ve gotta adapt, I’ve gotta show that I’ve got variety in my game and I’ve got different styles of playing tennis, and I’m glad I was able to bring this level today.”
“No, look, I mean, it’s something I’ve heard my whole career. I’m not big enough, I’m not strong enough, I’m a pusher, don’t have the firepower. Never going to be a top player. But, you know, I hear this week in, week out,” the Australian said in his press conference.
“The only thing that does is give me more fire and adds more gasoline to this engine that’s ready to do everything in its power to prove people wrong. Hey, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I know that I’m going to get the absolute most out of myself,” De Minaur added.
When asked to compare his victory against Novak Djokovic with the one he achieved against Rafael Nadal in the same United Cup 12 months earlier, the Australian suggested that this one is the most important of his career: “Yeah, I don’t know. I guess this one is the first because it’s world No 1, and honestly, like, as I said, last time we played I was lucky to get games, right, to the point where I felt almost embarrassed on the court. I think it’s been a nice little changeup from one year ago,” he claimed.
“I’m happy that I was able to play that sort of tennis, that level and especially have that mentality. It’s not easy to walk back out on court after you’ve been kind of thrashed last time,” world No. 12 concluded.
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