Alex de Minaur will be focused on revenge when he takes on Matteo Arnaldi in the second round of the Australian Open, while the Italian’s Australian girlfriend will have her loyalty tested.
De Minaur’s path to the quarter-finals of his home Grand Slam was already enticing as the world number 10 avoided any possible last-16 clash with heavyweights including 10-time champion Novak Djokovic and finally second-seeded Wimbledon titleholder Carlos Alcraraz.
Djokovic and the great Jannik Sinner have crushed de Minaur in the fourth round in his past two Open tilts.
This year he will beat world number 5 Andrei Rublev in the round of 16, giving De Minaur his best chance yet to reach the quarter-finals.
In further impetus, world number 18 Nicolas Jarry was knocked out in the first round, giving De Minaur a seed-free passage into the second week.
Alex de Minaur says he will be looking for revenge when he takes on Matteo Arnaldi
Italian Matteo Arnaldi sealed Australia’s fate in the Davis Cup last year
Instead of Jarry, De Minaur will face Italian qualifier Flavio Cobolli or Russian world number 65 Pavel Kotov when he beats 41st-ranked Matteo Arnaldi on Wednesday.
“I have no idea of my draw,” said the 24-year-old.
‘I don’t look at the draw. I do not like it. It’s a way to help yourself move forward. There is no moment like the present.
‘The only thing I’m really focused on is my opponent in the next round, Arnaldi, a quality Italian player with a lot of firepower.
“I’m going to be ready for that fight. Whatever happens, it happens next.”
De Minaur admits his bond with Arnaldi is personal, even though the two have never clashed before.
Arnaldi defeated Alexei Popyrin to seal Australia’s fate in last year’s Davis Cup final in Malaga, in a major blow for the fiercely patriotic de Minaur.
“It’s no secret that the Davis Cup is a big priority for me,” he said.
Arnaldi’s girlfriend Mia Savio (pictured together) is from Melbourne and the Italian spent weeks in her hometown in the run-up to the Open
‘It has been mind-boggling in recent years to come so close to the Holy Grail and just miss it.
‘I associate Matteo as the man who beat us in the Davis Cup final. I will do my best to hopefully get revenge.”
Arnaldi’s Australian girlfriend Mia Savio lives in Melbourne and the Italian has been spending time with her in her hometown since November’s Davis Cup victory.
Last month, she provided insight into how her loyalties were divided during the meeting.
“It was very emotional to see, especially because my father passed away a month before the Davis Cup and he was Italian,” she told the BBC. Herald Sun.
‘It was crazy to see the final between the two countries. But it was great to see Matteo represent his country and Dad’s.”
De Minaur was a man on a mission this year and proved with victories over Djokovic, Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev that once he sets his mind to something, he is difficult to stop.
“I knew in the past that as a defender/counter-puncher I might not be able to beat the best guys in the world,” he said.
Savio said it was ‘crazy’ to see her husband play a starring role in Italy’s defeat to Australia in the Davis Cup last November
De Minaur has had a stellar year with wins over Novak Djokovic, Carlo’s Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, moving him to his best ever ranking of No. 10 in the world
‘I had to improve in that area and develop a more aggressive playing style.
‘That’s what got me the wins against the top players. It gives me a lot of confidence knowing that I can do this on the bigger stages, and that I can take it to the top players in the world.”
De Minaur is one of five Australians in action in the second round on Wednesday, with Alexei Popyrin’s blockbuster with Djokovic set to star in the overnight session at Rod Laver Arena.
Chris O’Connell will face American 16th seed Ben Shelton, a quarter-finalist in Melbourne last year before reaching the semi-finals at the US Open.
Jordan Thompson also has a tough mission, against Greek seventh seed and 2023 Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Qualifier Storm Hunter is the only Australian woman in the hunt for a spot in the third round on day four, against fellow doubles star Laura Siegemund of Germany.