- Alex de Minaur responded to the troll on social networks
- The Australian star defeated Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday
Alex de Minaur has hit back at a troll after surviving a major scare to keep his Australian Open dream alive and etch his name in the tennis history books.
De Minaur came within two points of a precarious two-set deficit before fighting back to a spirited 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3 victory over a brave but tiring Francisco Cerundolo on Saturday.
De Minaur has never won a Grand Slam match in two sets losing and had to do everything he could to avoid the need in a tense three hour and 53 minute bout on the Rod Laver Arena.
The great escape took the local hope to the last 16 for the fourth consecutive year and extended de Minaur's quest to become the first Australian to win the Open since Mark Edmondson in 1976.
One tennis fan was upset by the Australian's abundant enthusiasm and posted a clip of him from 2019 celebrating a victory, writing: “De Minaur after doing a high mid-spin on every point.”
After the match, De Minaur responded to the post by writing: “All the love to my number 1 fan.” She also posted a kiss face emoji and a love heart.
Alex De Minaur had a harsh response to a social media troll after his third round victory.
The 25-year-old joins legends Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, John Newcombe, Tony Roche and his Davis Cup captain and mentor Lleyton Hewitt as the sixth Australian in the Open era to reach the fourth round in six consecutive majors.
But the narrative could have been very different, and De Minaur acknowledged this after reaching the second week.
'It definitely wasn't pretty. I found a way,” said the world number 8.
'That's all I need to do right now: find a way to get through the first week.
'I'm glad I found a way to get over the line. Even if I don't play my best, I will compete until the end.”
De Minaur was not only competing, but thriving as Cerundolo, seeded No. 31, faded in a grueling encounter on Center Court.
“The legs are back,” De Minaur declared triumphantly of the message he was sending as he repeatedly slapped his thighs after miraculously chasing a dropshot to achieve a decisive break on late serve.
'It was a great point. He got the crowd on my side.
De Minaur came within two points of a precarious two-set deficit before fighting back to a spirited 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3 victory over a brave but tiring Francisco Cerundolo.
De Minaur had never won a Grand Slam match in two sets to love.
“I'm going to have a couple of bruises on my quads, but it was worth it.”
Off his game and down a set, De Minaur again gave up an early break in the second set before using a brief timeout to regroup as a spectator was escorted from RLA following a medical episode.
The eighth seed sought advice from his team on court, including Hewitt, and immediately stood up, nearly breaking a 40-0 deficit on Cerundolo's serve.
De Minaur was in trouble again after failing to fight back and was on the verge of a two-set deficit serving at 5-6, 15-30.
But he recovered to take the set in a tiebreaker and urged the crowd to carry him to victory.
I sure needed them.
Although Cerundolo needed treatment for a quadriceps strain early in the third set, De Minaur was unable to shake off the Argentine.
But he ultimately prevailed when Cerundolo double-faulted on match point to send De Minaur into a fourth-round meeting with American Alex Michelsen on Monday.
Michelsen previously defeated No. 19 seed Karen Khachanov in straight sets to become the youngest American since Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, who won six Australian Open crowns between them, to nab two scalps in the top 20 in a Grand Slam in 35 years.
“Look, he's been playing incredible tennis this week,” De Minaur said.
'He eliminated Stefanos (Tsitsipas). Today, Khachanov.
“He's a kid who plays with a lot of confidence, so I expect, again, another battle.”
But I love these battles. I can't wait.'