Not a Charming Display: Alex de Minaur Issues Apology Following Progression at Roland-Garros

Alex de Minaur powered through blisters on his toes and challenging windy conditions to claim a straight-sets victory over Serbian No. 59 Laslo Djere, winning 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(6) at Roland-Garros.

This triumph against Djere marked de Minaur’s remarkable 20th consecutive win at a grand slam against opponents ranked outside the top 30, but he faced a tough challenge towards the end of the match, fending off four set points along the way.

With Djere leading 5-2 in the third set, the Serbian was unable to convert two set points while serving at 5-4, and then squandered another two when he was 6-4 up in the tiebreak.

In an interview with Stan Sport, de Minaur highlighted the difficult conditions that impacted both his game and physical state.

“It definitely wasn’t an easy match, and while my opponent played a significant role, the conditions also had a major influence,” he said.

“It was cold and windy, making for less than ideal playing conditions, so perhaps the level of play was not as high as I’d have liked, but at the end of the day, you must find a way, and that’s what I did today.”

After the match, he acknowledged that it “wasn’t a pretty win” but also mentioned a moment that left spectators witnessing a less appealing side of his match.

During a medical timeout, the ninth seed had his blisters tended to, leading to close-ups of his afflicted toes being broadcasted.

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“I apologise to everyone who had to see that. Not the prettiest view,” the Demon chuckled.

“It was nothing serious. I usually have my toes taped before matches. Ironically, the toe that wasn’t taped was the one that caused the rubbing. There was absolutely nothing wrong with that toe, it just felt like it was bothering me.”

“Nonetheless, my apologies to anyone who had to witness my feet. Not a great sight.”

He further added, “I’m feeling quite confident on this surface. My movement, shape, and understanding of how to build points effectively on this surface have all improved,” he stated.

“There are still areas where I seek improvement, particularly in terms of shot weight. Playing with considerable spin and heaviness isn’t as natural for me but it’s crucial on clay.”

“Over the years, I’ve made significant progress in that regard. Taking that next step means becoming more comfortable with it and exploring options along the sidelines, I would say.”

De Minaur’s next opponent will be the unpredictable Alexander Bublik from Kazakhstan, who defeated Sydneysider James Duckworth 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in his first-round match.

In other news, Queenslander Adam Walton advanced after a thrilling five-set match, overcoming Maximillian Marterer 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in a match lasting 3 hours and 37 minutes.

In total, five Australians have progressed to the second round.

Alexei Popyrin is set to take on Alejandro Tabilo on Wednesday night, while Ajla Tomljanovic will play Italian Open champion Jasmine Paolini on the main court in Paris at 8pm AEST.