In a disappointing turn of events, World no. 6 Alex de Minaur has been forced to withdraw from the singles draw at the Paris Olympics due to hip issues. This marks the second consecutive time the Australian tennis player will miss out on the Olympic Games, having also skipped Tokyo three years ago due to the pandemic.
The injury occurred during the Wimbledon fourth-round match against Arthur Fils, where de Minaur managed to secure a victory but was unable to continue to the quarter-final match against Novak Djokovic. Despite his best efforts, the Aussie simply did not have enough time to recover for the singles competition in Paris, ultimately deciding to focus on the doubles draw alongside Alexei Popyrin.
This setback comes at a particularly unfortunate time for de Minaur, who has been enjoying a career-best season. He has reached two Major quarter-finals and claimed titles in Acapulco and ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The Australian showed great form at Wimbledon, defeating three opponents on his way to the clash with Djokovic, only to have to withdraw due to his hip injury.
In the match against Arthur Fils at Wimbledon, de Minaur displayed his skill and resilience, ultimately emerging victorious with a 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 scoreline after two hours and 54 minutes of play. Despite facing challenges on both his first and second serve, the Australian managed to break his opponent’s serve nine times, showcasing his determination and fighting spirit on the court.
While de Minaur’s absence from the singles draw in Paris is undoubtedly disappointing for fans and players alike, the Australian remains determined to make a strong comeback and continue his impressive run of form in the future. With his talent and determination, there is no doubt that we will see more great performances from Alex de Minaur on the tennis court in the days to come.
