Demon down and out in Italy

Alex de Minaur declared it was a “borderline miracle” he even got to the ATP finals, but a second defeat in as many matches on debut at the season-ending event was not the return he was after.

The Australian No.1 was blown off the court by temperamental grand slam winner Daniil Medvedev, ensuring de Minaur’s final clash with Taylor Fritz is a dead rubber for de Minaur, who can’t advance to the playoff component of the tournament in Turin.

After a racquet-busting tantrum in his opening match, Medvedev was at his devastating best with his tournament on the line and gave de Minaur little in the 6-2 6-4 win that took just 78 minutes.

For de Minaur, it was another loss to the calibre of players the world No.8 knows he has to start beating to take out major titles, but having battled a hip injury for much of the second-half of the year, the Australian knows he’s not where he needs to be physically.

“It’s been a work in progress. It hasn’t been easy whatsoever,” he said of the injury.

“It’s borderline a miracle that I’m here competing and I’ve been able to qualify under the circumstances.

Alex de Minaur lost in straight sets to Daniil Medvedev at the ATP finals. Picture: Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images

“But I have improved, for sure. It definitely feels better and better. There’s still probably a percentage to get to get back to where I want to be.”

Medvedev, lashed by critics for his behaviour in the opening game, put his fingers in his ears after winning match point in a defiant gesture and then wrote “Block the noise” in lieu of a signature on a TV camera before leaving the court.

“Just good to do it sometimes, for yourself, to remind yourself that you have to do it sometimes because the more popular you become, the more fans you get, the more haters you get, the more attention you get, and sometimes even the good noise can make you off balance,” he said.

“You know you win everything and everyone thinks you’re god and something like this and you lose two matches and everybody’s like finished, your career is finished, so sometimes it’s good just to block it and I managed to do it well today.”

The day wasn’t a good one for the Australians, with doubles pair Jordan Thompson and Max Purcell also losing; however, they remain alive having won their opening game.