Four years on from another Aussie knocking Rafael Nadal out of Wimbledon, Alex De Minaur will look to do it again in what will be the biggest match of his career to date. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10pm (AEST).
In what was another World Cup year, the then 19-year-old Nick Kyrgios took to the centre court of Wimbledon and ousted Rafael Nadal in four stunning sets.
The similarities between the two start and end there though. Where Kyrgios had the attacking weapons even at such a young age to go flying past Nadal, it’s hard to say De Minaur has the same.
De Minaur has played some big matches this year, including a five-set epic during the Davis Cup against Alexander Zverev in Brisbane, but he has built all of that on defence. On being able to scrap and grind his way through matches and come out the other side unscathed.
While Nadal is somewhat similar in his approach, he adapts enough on the grass to play the attacking game and put his opponent under pressure. He is the world No.1 and a former Wimbledon champion for a reason after all.
To win this match though, De Minaur will need to be aggressive from the outset. He is one of the fastest players on tour and needs to use that to his advantage, covering the court, getting into the net where possible and trying to put the World No.1 under pressure.
Holding serve early in sets and being able to stay in the Nadal service game will also be crucial.
It’s not out of the question he will do that either, given the form line has a tournament victory, another final and two four-set wins over good players in Marco Cecchinato and Pierre-Hugues Herbert to start at The Championships.
Nadal, on the other hand, had no lead-up to Wimbledon, taking an extended break after the French Open.
He has come away with a pair of straight-sets wins from his first two encounters though, blasting past Dudi Sela and Mikhail Kukushkin.
Prediction
De Minaur willl be able to go with Nadal at times. His fight, determination and high tennis IQ might even win him a set, but not the match. In saying that, this won’t be the last time we see the young Aussie on centre court in London.
Nadal in four sets.
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Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me for this one. I'll be back in a few hours with Nick Kyrgios and Kei Nishikori. Be sure to join us then. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Massive upset on Court 1! Simona Halep has been knocked out by Su-Wei Hsieh in three sets.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, RAFAEL NADAL Great wheels from De Minaur, but even better reflexes from Nadal who volleys it across off his body to win this third round encounter in straight set. De Minaur will learn a heap from this. He manages to hang around there at the back end and while he was never winning, it's an experience he will be able to draw on in the coming years. Nadal moves onto Monday where he plays either Jiri Vesely or Fabio Foginini in the fourth round. Alex De Minaur 1 2 4 Rafael Nadal 6 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another match point. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - AD
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur saves another. He was under the pump there and played a cracking running forehand, with Nadal finding the net. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - deuce (3)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match point! De Minaur... 1 2 4 - Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - AD
Scott Pryde
Expert
Not yet for De Minaur. Nadal comes racing to the net after a wide serve here, putting the volley away. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - deuce (2)
Scott Pryde
Expert
A bit of luck off the net, but what do you know, De Minaur has a break back opportunity, putting a cracking backhand past Rafa. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - AD Nadal ......... 6 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Oh my! That's the best shot De Minaur has played all day. On the ropes, but he plays an incredible runner, hitting the passing forehand back across his body. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Match point for Rafa now. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - 30 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve and that opens up the court with a short reply, but Nadal puts the forehand out. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - 30 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Longer point this time. De Minaur actually got the court open there, but he played the backhand just a fraction long. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - 15 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur sent scrambling this time. He kept one in, but then found the net on a forehand. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - 15 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal serving for the match. De Minaur won't go away without a fight here, picking off a forehand for the first point. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - 15 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur holds, but Nadal will serve for the match after the change of ends. De Minaur... 1 2 4 - Nadal ......... 6 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault, then a return right at De Minaur. He approaches up the middle of the court and then plays a really good crosscourt volley. De Minaur... 1 2 3 - 40 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Down the T. De Minaur... 1 2 3 - 30 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur sets up the overhead this time. He plays it back at Nadal, but the world No.1 puts his backhand into the net. De Minaur... 1 2 3 - 15 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
De Minaur serving to stay in the match. He loses the first point. De Minaur... 1 2 3 - 0 Nadal ......... 6 6 5 - 15