Alex de Minaur has crushed Jordan Thompson’s US Open dreams after putting paid to a comeback with a 6-0 3-6 6-3 7-5 victory in their all-Australian fourth-round clash.
De Minaur, the 10th seed, stormed out of the blocks to win the opening set without dropping a game but his 32nd-ranked countryman quickly got back on track in what became a tight tussle.
A dramatic fourth set featured five breaks of serve, with both players initially failing to consolidate — Thompson first after going up 3-1 and then de Minaur at 4-3.
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As if the topsy-turvy set wasn’t thrilling enough, Thompson recovered from 0-40 down in the ninth game to put the pressure right back on de Minaur.
But Thompson’s errors mounted, broken again in his next service game when a volley went long.
Knowing he had escaped having to fight through a tiebreak — or a fifth set — de Minaur grabbed his first chance to serve out the match with both hands.
“I’ve got so much respect for Thommo. We’ve grown up together,” de Minaur said after the three-hour encounter.
“He’s been like a big brother to me, I really appreciate everything he’s done for me. He’s a hell of a competitor, my Davis Cup teammate. I can’t wait to share the court many, many times with him.”
Indeed, the pair will be on the same team next week when the Davis Cup group stage takes place in Spain.
Until then rest is on the cards for Thompson but he also deserves to toast his second ever run to the fourth round of a grand slam.
The 30-year-old, who leaves with a $US325,000 ($A480,000) prize, will rise to a new career-high 29th in the world rankings.
De Minaur, meanwhile, moves on to face world No.25 Jack Draper in the quarter-finals, with world No.1 Jannik Sinner or 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev among possible semi-final opponents.
The Australian arrived in New York under a fitness cloud and with self-confessed “low expectations” but he is now right in the mix to go all the way.
Moving freely and showing no signs of the hip injury that shattered his Wimbledon and Olympic dreams, de Minaur showed his childhood friend little mercy.
Thompson berated his box, even bouncing and smashing a racquet on the court, as he fought tooth and nail to extend the match.
But de Minaur’s class and relentlessness ultimately prevailed.
He has now reached the quarter-finals at three straight grand slams — something no Australian, not even Ash Barty or Sam Stosur, has done since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004 and 2005.
“Look, it’s just the mentality. My positive mindset no matter what,” de Minaur said.
“I try to play every point, try to win every point and just always compete my heart out.”
– with AAP