A golden chance for Alex de Minaur to reach a maiden Grand Slam semi-final evaporated in a flash after going down to 25th seed Brit Jack Draper 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 earlier today on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
No doubt a bitter pill to swallow for Australia's top-ranked player, the two-time Newcombe medalist reflected on an optimistic and hopeful US Open run.
“I’m very proud of myself of what I have achieved, all things considering, doing everything I could to be in this position,” said de Minaur after his straight-sets defeat.
“Today it wasn’t meant to be, but I’m proud of my efforts.”
On top of playing in his first major quarter-final, de Minaur's opponent arrived having not dropped a set in the opening four rounds.
The Aussie made no excuses and was full of praise for Draper.
"Jack is never easy to play in the best of times, and the way he can spread the court, being a lefty and really move you around the court, it takes a toll on the body,” the world No.10 confessed after recently returning from a cartilage tear in his hip.
“He played well. He deserves the win. He moved me around the court and served great. In the few chances that I had, I wasn’t able to execute.”
It started to become notceable in the third set that de Minaur's injury was hampering his ability to perform, and he spoke about how retiring was never a possibility.
“I was expecting to feel better. I was trending in the right direction and today was a little bit the opposite,” he said.
“I dealt with it after Wimbledon. I’ll deal with it after here, and I’ll be back in no time, and hopefully sliding from side-to-side with not a thought in my head.
“Stopping didn’t cross my mind at any stage. It’s not part of me, part of my DNA. I’m always going to give my best.
"It could have been naïve of me, but I genuinely thought that there was a chance even in that last game going in. I thought there was a chance that I was going to change the match and win it. At every stage in that match, I gave myself a shot.”
This US Open campaign was de Minaur's first event since he was forced to withdraw before his quarter-final against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon - with doubts as to how far the Sydneysider could progress.
Despite looking sharp throuhgout the tournament, the body caught up with the former world No.6.
“I wish I felt better, let’s just put it that way,” said the 25-year-old. “It’s tough. It’s a big opportunity. It’s a big chance.
“[But] I’d rather try and think about what I was doing six, seven weeks ago [when injured], and where I am now, and try to focus on that instead of dwelling on what just happened and me potentially having one of the bigger opportunities of my career and it just slipping away from my hands.
"I’m going to stick with the positives. I’m proud of myself.”
Comments