| Match: Finished | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. De Minaur (AUS) (27) | 6 | 6 | 6(7) | 4 | 6 |
| H. Laaksonen (SUI) | 4 | 2 | 7(9) | 6 | 3 |
| Completed Sets | ||
|---|---|---|
| Set won by A. De Minaur | 6 - 3 | A. De Minaur leads 3 to 2 |
| Set won by H. Laaksonen | 4 - 6 | H. Laaksonen has tied the match at 2 sets all |
| Set won by H. Laaksonen | 6(7) - 7(9) | H. Laaksonen trails 2 to 1 |
| Set won by A. De Minaur | 6 - 2 | A. De Minaur leads 2 to 0 |
| Set won by A. De Minaur | 6 - 4 | A. De Minaur leads 1 to 0 |
Alex De Minaur will be looking to book a ticket in the third round of the Australian Open tonight when he takes on Henri Laaksonen of Switzerland. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7pm (AEDT).
With his maiden ATP title triumph in Sydney last weekend, De Minaur has continued his rise up the tennis rankings, reaching No.29 heading into the year’s first slam.
After having to endure two matches in Sydney on Saturday, De Minaur needed a straightforward first-round win and he managed that on Monday with his straight sets win over Pedro Sousa.
Sousa managed more winners than De Minaur, however, De Minaur’s higher first serve percentage and lower unforced error level was enough for the Australian to get through. He wasn’t great, but he was good enough.
De Minaur’s opponent is Henri Laaksonen of Switzerland. Laaksonen won’t be short of match practice, coming through qualifying to get his spot in the main draw. He then beat Mirza Basic in 4 tough sets on the outside courts on Monday.
The atmosphere tonight at Margaret Court arena will be worlds apart, with all support behind the young Aussie.
Prediction
De Minaur and Laaksonen haven’t played each other before so we have no history to go on.
However, with De Minaur in the best form of his life, it’s hard to see anything but a comfortable win for him.
De Minaur to win in straight sets.
David Holden
Roar Guru
If anyone possibly needed any confirmation that De Minaur is a great fighter, they got it just there. De Minaur dominated the first two sets but Henri Laaksonen slowly got on top of the rallies. De Minaur had a couple of major saves early in the last set and took his chance when it came. He now has a couple of days rest before taking on a guy called Rafael Nadal. De Minaur has survived a 5 set classic and is into the 3rd round
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
YES!!! YOU LITTLE BEAUTY!!! I am so so glad he managed to pull that one out; he really is the best male player in Australia. The Spaniard and the Demon, bring it on!! Thanks for the call David, it’s been a thriller!
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
WHAT A RIPPER!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Great win really to get back and win the fifth set after all that. Now for Nadal. Thanks David.
David Holden
Roar Guru
Great defence from De Minaur before the forehand error. 15-0 Good serve from De Minaur. 30-0 De Minaur just long with his forehand. 30-15 Good return and De Minaur sends the backhand wide. 30-30. Laaksonen just misses with the forehand and De Minaur has match point, 40-30 Great rally and De Minaur prevails. That's amazing fight from the young Australian. GAME SET MATCH ALEX DE MINAUR 6-4 6-2 6-7 4-6 6-3 De Minaur 6 6 6 4 6 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
De Minaur's game seems to have picked up a bit. Massive game coming up. That was a loose backhand from Laaksonen. 0-15 Great forehand wrong foots De Minaur. 15-15 Good serve sets up the point. 30-15 Forehand just long from Laaksonen. 30-30 and a massive point Laaksonen nets a drive volley and De Minaur has break point. 30-40 De Minaur has forced the forehand error and has broken! De Minaur 6 6 6 4 5 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 3
Scott Pryde
Expert
COME ON!!!
David Holden
Roar Guru
Crosscourt forehand from Laaksonen just misses. 15-0 Attacking second serve from De Minaur and Laaksonen nets the backhand 30-0 Unfortunate miss from Laaksonen. 40-0 Double fault and 40-15. De Minaur is going after his second Great sliding serve from De Minaur and he holds De Minaur 6 6 6 4 4 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand winner from Laaksonen. 15-0 Laaksonen cracks the forehand but just misses. 15-15 Good serve draws the error.30-15 De Minaur goes after the backhand and just misses. 40-15 Laaksonen runs De Minaur around again and levels at 3-3 De Minaur 6 6 6 4 3 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 3
David Holden
Roar Guru
Good serve draws an error. 15-0 Nice backhands and a forehand volley winner. 30-0 Good approach and Laaksonen's backhand sails wide. 40-0 Good serve and an easy hold for De Minaur De Minaur 6 6 6 4 3 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
De Minaur is under constant pressure here. Its hard to see him getting out of this. Good return and Laaksonen goes long on the backhand. 0-15 Unforced error and 15-15 Double fault. It's 15-30. His first double Unforced backhand error from De Minaur. 30-30 Ace for 40-30, timed at 205km/hr Unplayable serve and Laaksonen holds De Minaur 6 6 6 4 2 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 2
David Holden
Roar Guru
Laaksonen misses the forehand down the line. 15-0 Good serve to the backhand and it's 30-0 Deep return forces the error. 30-15 Deep again forcing the backhand error. 30-30. Crucial point Great crosscourt backhand winner from De Minaur. 40-30 De Minaur too relaxed on the volley and Laaksonen hits the backhand winner, Deuce Great retrieval again and Laaksonen errs on the backhand Great off forehand winner from Laaksonen. Deuce High quality from both players before Laaksonen goes long on the forehand. Ad to De Minaur Double fault and its deuce Deep return forces the error and Laaksonen has break point. De Minaur has made a poor error on the backhand and Laaksonen has the break back De Minaur 6 6 6 4 2 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 1
David Holden
Roar Guru
Forehand winner from Laaksonen and its 30-0 Sliding serve draws the error. 40-0 Unforced error and 40-15. There's a winner from De Minaur, the first in a set and a bit. 40-30 Laaksonen nets a backhand and we are at deuce. Laaksonen goes after the forehand but goes long. Break point Great defence again but Laaksonen gets the smash winner. Deuce Amazing point from both players but De Minaur prevails. 32 shots for the break point Laaksonen has netted the forehand and De Minaur has broken De Minaur 6 6 6 4 2 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Just struggling to get any penetration on his groundstrokes
David Holden
Roar Guru
De Minaur to serve. Better forehands from De Minaur and 15-0. The crosscourt backhand doesn't clear the net. 15-15 Better point and De Minaur fires up. 30-15 Mishit forehand from De Minaur. 30-30 Backhand is long, errors mounting for De Minaur 30-40. Laaksonen goes for the big forehand but hits the net. Deuce Good court movement from De Minaur and Laaksonen misses the forehand. Good first serve and De Minaur has held De Minaur 6 6 6 4 1 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wow. What is going on?
David Holden
Roar Guru
De Minaur has lost pace on his groundstrokes and Laaksonen controlling from the baseline. De Minaur looks physically spent so it will take a mammoth effort to win this. De Minaur 6 6 6 4 0 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6 0
David Holden
Roar Guru
Tremendous fight from De Minaur to hold on but he looks gone here. Will Laaksonen's nerve hold? Laaksonen hits a backhand just wide. 0-15 Good serve levels it at 15-15 Not enough on the return and Laaksonen hits the forehand winner 30-15 Good again from Laaksonen and 40-15. Backhand is pushed long by Laaksonen. 40-30 Forehand winner from Laaksonen and its 2 sets all De Minaur 6 6 6 4 Laaksonen 4 2 7 6