'Best I've seen': Alex de Minaur stuns in 'amazing' ATP Cup moment
He may not have won the match, but Alex de Minaur produced the shot of the ATP Cup so far in Australia’s clash with Spain on Tuesday night.
De Minaur failed to take advantage of a fast start and Rafael Nadal’s late scratching as Australia lost their opening tie.
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De Minaur was scheduled to take on World No.2 Nadal in Melbourne on Tuesday night, but the 20-time grand-slam winner withdrew just before the tie started with a stiff lower back.
That meant De Minaur took on Roberto Bautista Agut instead after John Millman lost to Nadal’s replacement Pablo Carreno Busta.
De Minaur made a scintillating start and took the first set 6-4, before producing an “amazing” moment in the second.
The Aussie pulled off a ridiculous no-look backhand shot while scrambling back onto court during an insane rally that Bautista Agut probably should have won.
“Should've won it, should've lost it, and then ended up winning it,” said Aussie great Todd Woodbridge on commentary.
American great Jim Courier added: “Where did this shot come from? That was an amazing shot from de Minaur.
“The exclamation point on the best point I've seen in the ATP Cup so far.”
Aussies up against it after losing tie 3-0
Millman showed plenty of fighting spirit but he was no match for Carreno Busta in a match that lasted just 77 minutes, with the Spaniard winning 6-2 6-4.
World No.23 de Minaur needed to beat world No.13 Bautista Agut to keep the tie alive, and he made a scintillating start to race out to a 5-1 lead.
The 21-year-old was broken twice in the next three games but was still able to seal the first set.
But from there Agut took control, snaring early breaks in each of the next two sets to secure the 4-6 6-4 6-4 win in two hours and 20 minutes.
“Going in you're expecting to play Rafa, but we got told at the warm-up, and you just go reset and focus on your new opponent,” de Minaur said of the late opponent switch.
“It didn't affect me too much. I mean, I had a game plan, was playing some good tennis and it kind of slipped away today.”
Millman said Carreno Busta was too good for him on the night.
“You've got to give credit where credit is due,” Millman said.
“I didn't play that great but Pablo was very good. I probably needed slightly better court position, needed to execute a couple of the bigger points a little better.
“And you know, that's maybe not abnormal due to the fact that it's your first match back after a bit of a break.
“Sometimes those little one per centers just aren't there. That was the case for me.”
Spain wrapped up the tie 3-0 after Carreno Busta and Marcel Granollers beat John Peers and Luke Saville 6-4 7-5 in the doubles.
with AAP
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