Aussie tennis star Alex de Minaur starts his comeback from one of the biggest setbacks in his career
- The 25-year-old is ranked ninth in the world
- Is ‘very frustrated’ by long layoff
Alex de Minaur has won his first match as he returns from a serious injury that has sidelined him since crashing out of the US Open six weeks ago.
A problem with his hip resurfaced at Flushing Meadow, with the world number 9 losing in straight sets in the quarter-finals as he struggled to deal with a hip problem that flared up so badly that he considered withdrawing from the Grand Slam before this one even started. .
The 25-year-old defeated Roberto Carballes Baena 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 to book his place in the last eight at the European Open in Antwerp on Wednesday evening, Australian time.
The world number 10 was left out of Australian captain Lleyton Hewitt’s initial squad for the Davis Cup final, with the aim of getting himself in the best possible shape for the Australian Open in January.
But after making a return as a player, de Minaur could also qualify for the season-ending ATP finals in Italy, which follows the Davis Cup.
“It’s never easy to come back from injury, so I’m happy I could win today,” said de Minaur, whose hip ailment forced him out of the series of tournaments known as the Asian swing.
‘It took a lot of struggle and effort, so I’m happy that I can get a first victory here in Antwerp.
‘The match is only over at the last point, that’s what I always tell myself. I’m always going to fight until the end and it’s helped me win a lot of matches, so I better keep doing it.”
Speaking at the launch of the Australian Open last week, Hewitt said De Minaur’s fitness was a “work in progress” and he had to “balance priorities” as his body continues to recover from the injury.
Alex de Minaur dropped the first set but came out on top in his first game back (pictured) as a troublesome hip injury ruined his lead at the US Open
The 25-year-old (pictured with tennis star girlfriend Katie Boulter) now has a chance to make the Australian team for the Davis Cup final
“I talk to him every second day, and it’s certainly been a very frustrating time for him,” Hewitt said.
“He’s had a few little niggles in the past, which I think helped him better understand what he needed to do to get over them and get back to 100 percent as quickly as possible.
“This was a different case and mentally it was more frustrating.
‘As everyone saw, the effort he made in New York, to stand on one leg, to get to a quarter-final, was quite exceptional, and he still gave himself a chance to play in Turin (ATP) . ) final by doing that too.
“So he now also has to weigh the priorities.”
The Davis Cup final starts on November 19.