Alex De Minaur is through to the final of the Sydney International, but will have only five hours to back up after beating Gilles Simon in straight sets this afternoon.
Final score
Alex De Minaur 6 6
Gilles Simon 3 2
Alex De Minaur will face a tough assignment in the semi-finals of the Sydney International as he faces veteran Frenchman Gilles Simon. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:30pm (AEDT).
De Minaur has been on fire to start another season, and with the draw opening up to him more favourably at the first grand slam of the year on the back of a seeding, he can look to use these matches as a good final preparation for Melbourne.
In the five matches he has won this year (two in Brisbane and three in Sydney), he hasn’t lost a set in any of them, with the only player able to get the better of him so far being Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
De Minaur’s straight-sets victory was impressive over Jordan Thompson yesterday as he held onto his serve in crucial times, won big points and showed his normal quick movement around the back of the court to get the job done.
Simon, meanwhile, will come into this match under a cloud of fatigue.
While the world No.31 has started the season well enough with a semi-final appearance in Pune, his level of consistency in Sydney has been questionable.
A late-night match yesterday, finishing at 1:30am (AEDT), won’t leave him in good stead for this one either, having been pushed to the brink by another Aussie in John Millman, requiring a third-set tiebreaker and some trademark heavy serving to get the job done.
Prediction
Simon is undoubtedly a talented player, but De Minaur looks to be in good form and, with recovery time and effort to get through to this stage of the tournament taken into account, the Aussie will make this match far too physical for his opponent to hang onto in the clutch.
De Minaur in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from around 8:30pm (AEDT) or at the completion of the women’s semi-final before it on the Ken Rosewall Arena and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Tj
Roar Rookie
He's only a youngster he'll be fine One to watch for the future
David Holden
Roar Guru
Ice bath and sleep apparently, but it is a big ask to back up.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Hope you enjoyed the call, Roarers. Stuart Thomas will be back from 5pm to cover the women's and men's final. Hopefully Ash Barty and Alex De Minaur can both go one step further than last year, although Kvitova and Seppi are both tough opponents.
Bruiser
Roar Rookie
5 hours to prepare for the final, that’s tough
David Holden
Roar Guru
Alex De Minaur will take on Andreas Seppi in the Sydney International final later today. De Minaur was too good for a heat impacted Gilles Simon. He did keep the points reasonably short and the straight sets win has given him a good chance of backing up well.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sliding ace with new balls and 15-0. De Minaur goes long with the forehand and 15-15. Good sliding serve draws the error. 30-15. Great forehand volley and De Minaur has 2 match points. Simon approaches and saves one. 40-30. Simon runs around the backhand and hits the forehand winner. Deuce. Simon's forehand catches the net and falls wide. Match point again. De Minaur has gone long with the backhand and its deuce. He was too conservative on that match point. Good first serve and De Minaur has his 4th match point. Good first serve to the body and he has done it this time. GAME SET MATCH DE MINAUR 6-3 6-2 De Minaur 6 6 Simon 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand winner from De Minaur. 0-15. Forehand return winner and 0-30. Simon is on the ropes. De Minaur catches the line with his backhand. Simon has challenged but the ball is on the line. 0-40. Simon has netted the forehand approach and De Minaur has the double break. He will serve for the match. De Minaur 6 5 Simon 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Sliding first serve and forehand winner. 15-0. Great forehand return winner. 15-15. Sliding serve draws the error. 30-15. Simon overhits a backhand and 40-15. Good crosscourt backhand from Simon. 40-30. Great point from Simon finished with the forehand winner. Deuce. Overhit backhand and Simon has a point to break straight back. Great backhand pass from De Minaur under pressure. Deuce. Simon nets the forehand and De Minaur has game point. First serve catches the line and De Minaur holds De Minaur 6 4 Simon 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Backhand long from De Minaur. 15-0. De Minaur brings Simon into the net and backhand lobs for the winner. 15-15. De Minaur knocks the forehand wide after a better rally from Simon. 30-15. Great off backhand for the winner from De Minaur. 30-30. De Minaur nets a forehand. 40-30. Forehand winner off a 124km/hr serve. Deuce. Backhand lob winner from De Minaur again. He has a break point. Great point from De Minaur eventually won with a backhand winner. He has the break and leads 3-2. De Minaur 6 3 Simon 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
If De Minaur cuts out the unforced errors, he will win. He is just committing too many at the moment. Both players seem to be struggling now. Andreas Seppi will be quite happy. Good forehand cross from Simon and De Minaur does well to dig out the volley winner. 15-0. Backhand winner from De Minaur after odd shot from Simon. 30-0. Backhand return goes long. 40-0. Backhand into the net and De Minaur levels. De Minaur 6 2 Simon 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon pushes a crosscourt backhand wide. 0-15. De Minaur pushes a backhand long. 15-15. Deep forehand from De Minaur forces the error. Simon challenged but ball has caught the line. 15-30. Good off forehand from Simon. 30-30. Another backhand miss from De Minaur. 40-30. And another unfortunately. Simon has held De Minaur 6 1 Simon 3 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon was there for the taking in that game so De Minaur missed an opportunity. Simon struggling in the heat. De Minaur catches the line with a backhand winner. 15-0. Return just long. 30-0. First serve and then backhand winner. 40-0. Good first serve wide and De Minaur has held De Minaur 6 1 Simon 3 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Classy backhand down the line from De Minaur. 0-15. Forehand floats wide from Simon. 0-30. Simon really struggling here. De Minaur floats a forehand long. 15-30. De Minaur makes a backhand error. 30-30. Backhand netted and 40-30. De Minaur playing a loose game after going up early. Double fault and deuce. De Minaur needs to pounce. Long again from De Minaur and too many unforced errors. Simon holds. De Minaur 6 0 Simon 3 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Huge hold for De Minaur after both players have multiple chances. It will be interesting to see how Simon reacts as he now knows its a long way back De Minaur 6 Simon 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good forehand draws the backhand error. 15-0. Wide forehand from Simon. 30-0. Big forehand return from Simon. 30-15. Ball catches the net and De Minaur not prepared for the net cord. 30-30. Mishit forehand from Simon but it has fallen in. 30-40. Bad miss on the forehand return. Deuce. De Minaur pushes a forehand long and another break point. Great attacking tennis from De Minaur. Deuce. Simon sets up that point through his return. Forehand winner from De Minaur and we are at deuce again. Rally of the match before De Minaur nets a forehand approach. Big first serve when needed. Deuce. Great off forehand from De Minaur. Set point. Impressive backhand return and we are at deuce. This game is pivotal in the match. Good first serve again for set point. Simon nets a forehand and De Minaur takes the first set! De Minaur 6 Simon 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon may be 5-2 down but the rallies are tightening up. De Minaur winning plenty of points from the net. Simon serving to stay in this set. De Minaur misses a forehand down the line. 15-0. Unforced error from Simon. 15-15. Simon floats a forehand long. 15-30. Simon struggling with sun on his serve. Poor return from De Minaur for 30-30. De Minaur approaches but backhand pass is too good. 40-30. Drop shot from De Minaur too good. Deuce. Backhand into the net from De Minaur. Simon has the ad. Drop shot again from De Minaur is too good. Deuce. Simon misses a forehand after controlling the point. Set point. Simon approaches that time and saves the set point. Deuce. Longest point of the match and Simon wears De Minaur down. He has the ad. De Minaur finally misses a drop shot and Simon has held again De Minaur 5 Simon 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Simon looked better in that last game. Good approach to the backhand and forehand volley for the winner. 15-0. De Minaur floats a backhand long. 15-15. Good volleying again from De Minaur. 30-15. Simon pushes a backhand long. 40-15. Simon nets a crosscourt backhand and De Minaur holds. De Minaur 5 Simon 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
De Minaur showing a lot more variety than Simon. He is looking for shorter points where possible, maybe with one eye on the final. Simon to serve. De Minaur approaches again and Simon nets the backhand. 0-15. Amazing defence from De Minaur before Simon frames the smash. 0-30. Good volleying from De Minaur but Simon whips a forehand winner across court. 15-30. Better point again from Simon. 30-30. Backhand down the line wrongfoots Simon. 30-40. Mishit forehand from De Minaur. Deuce. Forehand return sails long. Simon has the ad. Good groundstrokes from Simon and he has done well to hold. De Minaur 4 Simon 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Nice volleying again from De Minaur. 15-0. Big forehand sets up that point. 30-0. Simon goes wide with his backhand. 40-0. Great first serve for 4-1 De Minaur 4 Simon 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Both players strong from the baseline but De Minaur more aggressive so far. Simon to serve. Great backhand winner down the line from Simon. 15-0. Crosscourt backhand from De Minaur is long. 30-0. Another backhand long from De Minaur. 40-0. Forehand error return and that is a loose game from De Minaur De Minaur 3 Simon 1