Aussie Demon set for 20-year first

Last time Alex de Minaur played Jack Draper he walked off court at the US Open beaten and unclear how much more tennis he could play in 2024 as his battle with a hip injury continued.

But victory over his Flushing Meadows conqueror at the Paris Masters has all but secured de

Minaur’s place as the first Australian in 20 years to make the ATP finals.

On a day countryman Jordan Thompson continued his storming run up the rankings with victory that earnt him a first Masters 1000 quarter-final berth, de Minaur declared his job was “not done” after giving “every ounce” to win.

Australia’s No.1 player, de Minaur came back after losing the opening set to take down Draper 5-7 6-2 6-3 at the Palais Omnisports and move, provisionally, into the eighth and final spot in the race to make the end-of-season championship in Turin.

The field won’t be confirmed until after next week’s final qualifying tournaments in Belgrade – where de Minaur will be top seed – and the Australian won’t be taking his eye off the prize with a quarter-final victory now his goal.

“You can never say ‘job done’ in the middle of a tournament, that’s not in my DNA,” he said.

“Obviously, I’m super stoked with the win, but I will keep on doing my best, keep on trying to win more matches.

“It took every ounce from me and I am just happy I was able to rally. I’m going to put my body on the line, try my hardest, show my opponent that I can do that all day.”

Draper, the world No.15, was on a seven-match win streak after his Vienna Open triumph, making de Minaur’s win all the more impressive.

As was Thompson’s two-set victory over French local favourite Adrian Mannarino that pushed the Australian, who is ranked 28, into his ninth quarter-final of comfortably the best season of his singles career.

“It was getting a little bit squeaky out there, but I did well to turn it around from 6-5, 40-15, and I actually found some of my best points and managed to sneak out a win in the tie-breaker,” Thompson said.

“It’s what we’ve been working towards, these big results at big tournaments.”

He will play Carlos Alcaraz in his maiden quarter-final, but Alexei Popyrin bowed out of the tournament.