Todd Woodbridge, Sam Stosur, Mark Philippoussis and Alicia Molik are all impressed with Alex de Minaur’s type at Wimbledon 2024.
London, Nice Britain, 10 July 2024 | Leigh Rogers> 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 harder to beat.
“Alex goes to must play the match of his life, however he has overwhelmed him. He’s been in a quarterfinal earlier than. The entire 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 may increase De Minaur’s possibilities, based on the previous world No.1 doubles participant.
“The one factor of his recreation 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 among the biggest returners of all time, so he’s going to reap the benefits 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 acquired to check him all the time along 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 desires to see De Minaur take his possibilities and play with self-belief.
“I feel he’s enjoying effectively 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, totally 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 will occur. So, there’s form of no different alternative than to again your self.
“He’s going to must play exceptionally effectively, however there’s perhaps 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 acquired the sport and the mentality to go towards anybody,” mentioned Philippoussis, a Wimbledon finalist in 2003.
“However Djokovic’s confidence is gaining with each match that he’s enjoying I consider. I feel his confidence has additionally grown along with his knee.
“(However) if you wish to win a Grand Slam, you’ve acquired to play one of the best on this planet and beat one of the best, 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, among the greatest tennis of his profession,” Philippoussis mentioned. “He’s inside the highest 10, he’s enjoying with numerous confidence, he’s persevering with to place strain on the blokes. We all know the center he has and the velocity he has across the court docket, however the good factor is, which I consider is an enormous a part of him stepping into the highest 10, is he’s being extra aggressive.
“He wanted to be stepping in and I feel he is aware of that he wants to begin growing these weapons to place the strain on, not simply operating and having unbelievable protection. He’s acquired some nice offense and grass fits his recreation.”
> READ: De Minaur “feeling fairly first rate” after harm scare at Wimbledon 2024
Philippoussis, who superior to Wimbledon’s second week six occasions in his profession, doesn’t consider De Minaur’s harm scare within the fourth spherical might be a difficulty.
“It’s regular for the second week at Wimbledon to be feeling niggling issues in your muscular tissues, as a result of it’s powerful the grass, you’re getting down low and coming into the web,” he defined. “It’s extra on the muscular tissues and the joints on the grass, so I’m positive numerous folks can 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 feel he’s a very totally 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 recreation is well-suited for grass-court success.
“He’s very a lot in the identical mould as (Carlos) Alcaraz when it comes to motion,” she mentioned.
“(He’s a) phenomenal mover on the grass and simply his means, I feel, to adapt as effectively, to make use of his chip and slice (helps him). He’s only a actually compact participant along with his swings, which is why I feel 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
Discover your method to play: Go to play.tennis.com.au to get out on court docket and have some enjoyable!
