Alex de Minaur has a triumph over the legendary Rafael Nadal on clay but he clinched his most important victory yet on the surface when eclipsing powerful German Jan-Lennard Struff to reach the second week of the French Open for the first time.
The Australian took another significant step forward in his career when fighting back to defeat the in-form Struff 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3 in 2hr 53m in an interrupted match as the miserable weather that has plagued Paris this week struck again on Saturday.
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After celebrating a rousing performance with a roar and fist pump, the Australian celebrated with a young fan who had supported him throughout the day, offering him a hug and a towel. Later, he praised him for his assistance in helping him remain focused.
“That young lad was there from the very first point till the last with five hours of rain delay,” he said.
“He was this little kid that every single change of ends, every single point I won, he was screaming at my face. I’m looking at him and thinking if I was a fan, I would probably be back home, because it was bloody cold out there.
“I don’t understand what this kid was doing, but, oh, he gave me life. Every single change of ends I’m looking at him, locking eyes with him. I just gave him a hug. Mate … it was a relief more than anything. It was amazing. I appreciate this kid.
“The fact that he’s spent 10 hours at the court today in the freezing cold pumping me up, I was happy that I was able to get a win together with him.”
De Minaur had never progressed beyond the second round at Roland Garros previously, but he has looked an improved player on the surface throughout the entire European swing from the moment he pushed world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in a quarterfinal in Monte Carlo.
His reward for the breakthrough is another clash at grand slam level against three-time Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev, who edged him in four sets a brutal clash in New York in the same round last year. At stake is a spot in the quarterfinals.
The Australian was delighted after the performance, describing it as one of the best of his career given the excellence with which Struff started the match and also the manner with which he navigated the challenges associated with another lengthy rain delay.
“(It was) another huge mental battle. I would probably say it was one of my best performances mentally I’ve had … in my career to turn that match around with the conditions, with everything really against me,” he said.
“It’s huge for the confidence, huge for just also rewarding yourself for the hard work and staying in the match. A lot of the time, you do your best, you fight your hardest. But this is tennis. Sometimes you don’t get rewarded.
“But a day like today where I’m backed against the wall, a lot of things going against me, and managing to kind of find the gold at the end of the tunnel is huge. It kind of gives me that confidence that I can do it again and again now.”
In a clash pitting the David-sized de Minaur against a Goliath in Struff, the No. 11 seed was on the back foot in the infancy of the match as the German thundered serves and flashed groundstrokes in an impressive opening in which he struck eight forehand winners.
The Sydneysider eventually conceded the critical break at 4-all when erring on the forehand wing repeatedly while trying to press.
He soon found himself in trouble in the second set as well when dropping serve in the third game, with girlfriend Katie Boulter among those looking on with some anxiety. But although Struff struck another six backhand winners in the second set, de Minaur was closing.
From that moment on the Davis Cup star was the superior player as he adjusted to the pace of the Struff game, became more aggressive in all aspects of his play and began to work his taller rival around the court.
“I knew that the conditions of the day, everything, couldn’t get any worse, right?” he said.
“I knew that this was just ideal conditions to a T (for him). It’s slow, heavy, rainy, muddy. He’s able to hit through the court and not really make a lot of mistakes.
“I just told myself that the only chance or way I was going to win this match was just to fight till the end, fight every single point, keep battling, try to stay in no matter what, and that’s what got me the win.
“I battled through and I managed to turn it around at times where it looked quite dark out there, and, yeah, I’m very happy with that.”
After levelling the third round match on Crt 14, there was a brief hiccup on the court – de Minaur dropped his level momentarily and his first service game as a result – and then a longer delay lasting more than four hours as rain set in 1hr 45min into the intriguing clash.
When play resumed at 5.30pm in Paris, the recent Monte Carlo Masters quarterfinalist produced some scintillating tennis to retrieve the service break and then ran away with the third set by reeling off the last four games.
In the infancy of the 4th set de Minaur struck again with magnificent court craft, repeatedly dragging his 24-year-old rival forward before whipping superb topspin lobs over the top of last year’s Madrid Masters finalist.
Struff, who has matured into a fine player, had chances to retrieve the break but the defence of de Minaur was outstanding as he continued to defy his older rival.
The 41st ranked German launched one final challenge with de Minaur serving at 4-3, but the Monte Carlo-based Australian was able to save three break points, one with a deft forehand drop shot, before breaking again to cap a brilliant performance.
“I’m looking forward to (playing Medvedev). I have won enough matches to put myself in a good spot,” he said.
“So I’m quite excited again to play Medi, and these are the types of matches I wanted to be playing at the start of the week, and I’m excited to put myself in that position again.”