Alex De Minaur has earned himself a spot in the top ten rankings despite losing to German favourite Alexander Zverev in the French Open quarter-final on Thursday morning.
Rafael Nadal fans are sad his elimination in the first round of the French Open could be his last match.
There is growing speculation after his three-set loss to Alexander Zverev that his tennis career might be over.
The 14-time French Open winner said there is a big percentage his defeat to the fourth seed was his last match.
The three-hour blockbuster match on Thursday morning marked the first Australian male to play a Roland Garros quarter-final in 20 years – the last player being Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.
Zverev and De Minaur delivered a remarkable match for fans as the fourth and eleventh-ranked players tested each other’s backhands at Philippe Chatrier Court.
Alexander Zverev of Germany defeated Alex De Minaur in the Men’s Singles Quarter-Final match on Day 11 at Roland Garros. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
The German was forced to save two early break points though both players were able to hold serve until the seventh game when Zverev sealed the set with a crosscourt backhand.
However, De Minaur proved resilient and won the opening game of the second set without conceding a single point but was pushed all the way to a tiebreak by Zverev’s more-than-200km/h serves.
The Australian shot to a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak but his opponent fought tooth-and-nail to 5-5 when he put it all on the line in a 39-shot point and claimed victory in the second set 7-5.
In the third and final set, De Minaur showed plenty of talent again but was unable to claw his way back into the match as the German’s superb physicality prevailed 6-4.
Alex De Minaur was unable to capitalise on his first serves against the 196cm-tall German. Picture: Tim Goode/Getty Images
Alexander Zverev escaped trouble several times due to his massively powerful first serve. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
Despite the loss, De Minaur has been projected to return to the top 10 rankings due to his brilliant run at the French Open.
“I’m extremely proud of my efforts throughout the two weeks, and even today I think I put up a hell of a fight in adverse conditions against a quality opponent,” De Minaur said after the match.
The Australian has firmly set his sights on Wimbledon as he said he is looking forward to “jumping on the grass”.
“I’m excited for the grass, excited to, you know, let the surface help me out a little bit out there,” he said.
Alex De Minaur will likely return to France as a top ten player for the Olympics in July-August. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images
After the British tournament, De Minaur could be set to return to France once again to participate in tennis at the Paris Olympic Games.
“It kind of shows that there’s no reason why I can’t put on a good showing (at the Olympics) and perform and win matches. I’ll be looking forward to it. I think it will be a little bit warmer, so it should be fun,” he said.
Until then, he has said he will take a well-earned break and “play some golf”.