Jordan Thompson says Alex de Minaur is playing well enough to win the US Open after losing to his good friend from Sydney on Tuesday (AEST).
De Minaur, the world No.10, next plays 25th ranked Jack Draper of Great Britain in the quarter-finals on Thursday (from 3.15am AEST).
Neither man has reached a grand slam semi-final before.
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Alex de Minaur and Jack Draper. Getty/Nine
De Minaur holds a 3-0 career record over Draper and Thompson says the 25-year-old is at the peak of his powers.
“I think so,” Thompson said when asked on Stan Sport’s Grand Slam Daily whether de Minaur could go all the way in New York.
“I mean, this is his best year, I think. He’s top 10, he got to six (in the world rankings in July). I mean, he can do it, but going out and doing it is a whole different story. He’s got to execute it, which is tough.
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“And if he gets past a quarter, it’s foreign territory as well. So hopefully he just deals with it well.”
De Minaur beat Thompson 6-0, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the fourth round.
Thompson said it was a relentless experience to play against his rapid Davis Cup teammate.
“He doesn’t have any holes really,” the 30-year-old said.
“He can turn defence into attack. So it’s really hard to get the ball past him. And statistically, best returner on tour.
Alex de Minaur of Australia reacts after a point against Daniel Evans of Great Britain. Getty
“I mean, I find him hardest to serve through, serve around. Yeah, it’s just super tough. He just makes you play all the time. And he’s got an extremely flat ball through, so it skids on you and shoots through, so it’s really hard to attack.”
De Minaur has already knocked a Brit out of contention at Flushing Meadows, defeating Dan Evans 6-3, 6-7, 6-0, 6-0 in the third round.
The ‘Demon’ is in a relationship with British women’s star Katie Boulter and got plenty of support at Wimbledon this year.
Katie Boulter of Great Britain and partner Alex de Minaur of Australia. Getty
But he knows that will go out the window against Draper, the 22-year-old viewed as Andy Murray’s heir apparent.
“Look, I’ve played plenty of Brits. It’s never easy,” de Minaur said.
“I feel a little bit of hostility in their country at the moment… I’m excited for the battle – do one for Australia, do one for myself as well.”
Jack Draper of Great Britain against Zhizhen Zhang of China. Getty
The left handed Draper is yet to drop a set at Flushing Meadows but is yet to face a seeded player.
“Jack, he’s coming off his best year by far,” de Minaur said.
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence. He’s got some very big weapons – his serve, backhand, and forehand at times. So it’s always tough facing someone like him, especially a leftie. I have had some success in the past. I’m going to try and draw on that, on what I was able to do in those types of matches.”
De Minaur’s impressive form comes after a heartbreaking Wimbledon withdrawal before a quarter-final against Novak Djokovic in July.
The Australian tore cartilage in his hip while beating Arthur Fils in London and the injury also forced him out of the Paris Olympics.
“In a way, it’s been a blessing in disguise,” de Minaur said.
“Because I haven’t put too much pressure on myself because I know how I felt with my hip. But at the same time, every day I felt better and better. So hopefully I’m peaking for the right moment..
“So it’s a good feeling. And look, it’s time to give it all.”
De Minaur is the seventh Australian to reach multiple US Open men’s singles quarter-finals in the Open era.
Only Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt have achieved the feat in the last 50 years.
Hewitt is the last Aussie man to win the US Open title, beating Pete Sampras in the 2001 final.
