Alex de Minaur overcame a nervy start to launch his Wimbledon campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over a qualifier on Centre Court. The Australian No. 1, seeded 14th, triumphed 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 to book his place in the second round.
De Minaur's rocky start
The 25-year-old struggled with his rhythm early on, double-faulting twice in his opening service game and facing three break points. However, he saved them all and gradually found his range. 'I was a bit tight at the beginning, but once I got my first game under my belt, I felt much better,' de Minaur said after the match.
Key moments in the match
The first set was decided by a single break in the ninth game, as de Minaur fired a forehand winner down the line. The second set proved more competitive, with both players holding serve until the tiebreak. De Minaur edged ahead 6-3 in the tiebreak before sealing it with a crisp backhand volley. The third set saw the Australian break early and maintain his advantage, closing out the match on his first match point with an ace.
Stats and impact
De Minaur finished with 34 winners and 15 unforced errors, while his opponent managed 22 winners and 28 unforced errors. The win improves de Minaur's record at Wimbledon to 7-4, with his best performance a fourth-round appearance in 2022. 'Every win here gives me more confidence,' he said. 'I love playing on grass, and I feel my game is suited to it.'
Next challenge
De Minaur will face either a Spanish qualifier or a French wildcard in the second round. With the draw opening up after several seeds fell early, the Australian is optimistic about a deep run. 'I'm taking it one match at a time, but I believe I can go far if I keep playing like this,' he added.
