Alex de Minaur drags hosts Australia into United Cup quarter-finals
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Australia's Alex de Minaur celebrates winning a point in his match against the Czech Republic's Jakub Mensik at the United Cup in Sydney on Jan 6.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Alex de Minaur led Australia to the United Cup quarter-finals with a singles and mixed doubles win against the Czech Republic.
- Despite Jasmine Paolini's win, Italy exited the tournament as they could not win the group this year.
- The United States vs Greece and Switzerland vs Argentina are among the quarter-finals matches on January 7.
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SYDNEY – World No. 6 Alex de Minaur beat an up-and-coming Jakub Mensik and then won in doubles to drag hosts Australia into the quarter-finals of the United Cup on Jan 6 and thrill an energised Sydney crowd.
Also progressing into the last eight of the season-opening 18-team ATP-WTA event were Belgium and the Czech Republic, but Italy bowed out.
Hopes are high at home that de Minaur, fondly known as “Demon”, can go deep at the Australian Open starting on Jan 18 and he served warning with a 6-4, 6-1 win over the 18th-ranked Mensik.
That drew Australia level in the tie against the Czech Republic. De Minaur then paired up with Storm Hunter as they won the mixed doubles rubber in straight sets to progress.
The Czechs went through despite the 2-1 loss.
“I didn’t start the year the way I wanted to,” said de Minaur, who fell to Casper Ruud in his first group match.
“But something I’ve done really well in my career is bouncing back, so I’m happy I bounced back today.”
In Perth, world No. 3 Jasmine Paolini defeated France’s Leolia Jeanjean 6-2, 6-3 for an opening win of the season, finally sealing the deal on her sixth match point.
But it was not enough as Italy joined France in exiting the competition.
Paolini, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, said: “First matches are always tricky.
“I’m happy how I felt on court today. We could not win the group this year but we did our best and fought to the last ball.”
The ties on Jan 7 include quarter-finals between holders the United States and Greece, and Switzerland and Argentina, both in Perth.
World No. 2 Iga Swiatek is in action in Sydney as Poland face the Netherlands in a Group F match. AFP
