de Minaur fights past Cerundolo to keep the dream alive

Australia’s Alex de Minaur was looking to reach the fourth round of his home Grand Slam when he took to the court against Argentina’s 31 seed Francisco Cerundolo.

Melbourne, Australia; 12th Jan 2025: Alex de Minaur of Australia during a practice session at the Australian Open. Melbourne, Australia. (Photo Credit: Rob Keating/RobiciaTennisPhotography)

de Minaur had reached the fourth round on three previous occasions in Australia. Impressively, the Australian had also reached the quarterfinals at all of the other Grand Slams in 2024.

It was de Minaur who got off to a great start when he broke in the opening game.

That was short lived when the Australian served three double faults in the next game, including to concede the game. It was a terrible game for both players with errors and double faults.

In game five it was again de Minaur that got a break after a run of errors from Cerundolo handed the Australian the game.

de Minaur consolidated the break to go to 4-2. The Argentine was made to fight to hold his next service game, but he did hold.

A marathon game followed in which de Minaur fought off a break point, as well as holding a handful of game points before finally getting it done for a 5-3 lead.

A double fault again came into play when de Minaur served one at break point in the 10th game, that saw Cerundolo level at 5-5.

An easy service hold for the Argentine and suddenly de Minaur was fighting to stay in the set. At 30-40 it was yet another double fault from the Australian that conceded the set.

After the high of winning the first set, Cerundolo got off to a hot start in the second, holding serve to love. It came after three errors from the Australian and then an Ace to close out the game.

Things quickly turned around when a string of errors from Cerundolo saw him get behind at 15-40. de Minaur would eventually get the break, only to be broken in the next game.

Games would then go with serve until it was 6-6 and tie breaker time.

Cerundolo would hit the only winners in the breaker, but he lost the set after three forehand unforced errors in a row came from his racquet. de Minaur now had levelled the match when it could have easily been a two-set deficit.

de Minaur was in early trouble in the opening game of the third set when he again served consecutive double faults, he would fight back to hold after a string of errors from his opponent.

Cerundolo would save a break point in the next game before holding. The key break for de Minaur would come in game four as he broke easily before consolidating the break to lead 4-1.

Things tightened up for the Australian when he was broken to have Cerundolo serving to level the set at 3-4, there was however yet another break of serve after which the Australian served out the third set to love.

In game 7 of the fourth set a string of unforced errors saw Cerundolo in trouble on serve. He suddenly was at 15-40, one winner and it was 30-40 but then a double fault came and the game was in the bag for de Minaur.

The Australian would hold and then after a marathon game 9, he would get another break to close out the match.

de Minaur getting a 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-3 victory in three hours and 53 minutes.

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