Alex de Minaur is wary of the clash with compatriot James Duckworth

All Australian players, from Jordan Thompson to Alexei Popyrin and Thanasi Kokkinakis, speak highly of De Minaur: the player, rival, friend, person and leader of the Davis Cup.

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“Growing up, I was like his older brother, and he always looked up to me, but now I look up to him — and I told him so,” Thompson said.

“He is doing incredibly well. He reached the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros and it is his worst performance. It just shows how hard he works and how much he improves.”

Duckworth is in a position to play a kind of spoiler for de Minaur’s grand plans to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and beyond for the first time. Not that he sees it that way, even if he understands the story.

Duckworth fought his way back into the world’s top 100 with strong back-to-back weeks on grass in Stuttgart and then in Halle, where seventh-placed Hubert Hurkacz held him off in the round of 16.

Hurkacz is a potential fourth-round opponent for de Minaur – and therefore also for Duckworth.

The world No. 78 has overcome 10 surgeries on various body parts to become one of the great stayers in Australian tennis during a career that has peaked in the top 50 and included at least one win at all four Grand Slams. He still hopes that the best is yet to come, and that is what drives him, along with the “love of the game”.

“There’s a few more goals I want to check off. I’ve never made it to the fourth round of a slam, so that’s definitely one, and I just want to get my ranking higher than (my career high of) 46,” Duckworth said .

Duckworth’s thirst for hard work and the attitude that allows him to get back up after being knocked down so many times, plus his talents as a tennis player, are the reasons why De Minaur holds him in such high regard.

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There is also appreciation and respect for the way Duckworth and co. helped him in his formative years.

“I have been so incredibly lucky,” said De Minaur.

“They were all so nice to me; so receptive. I (was) a young boy eager to learn and improve, and it wasn’t just James Duckworth. We’re talking about (John) Millman, Jordan Thompson, Sam Groth. All these guys just gave me time and let me learn a little bit from them.

“It was great to be able to improve with them. I think that’s probably the best way to describe Australian culture: raising each other up. That’s pretty cool.”

Duckworth, who is now coached by Andrew Harris, has no intention of giving in to Australia’s best player, who is preparing for a real battle against a “very dangerous” opponent.

De Minaur had booked a practice session with qualifier Alex Bolt to prepare for the left-handed Moutet, but he switched to Casper Ruud – Bolt’s first round opponent – ​​and Kokkinakis after Duckworth replaced the Frenchman in the draw.

“He is a grass field player and he is extremely dangerous,” said De Minaur.

“He’s had some very good victories in this area, and I’m definitely ready for the fight. It’s exciting. My fortunes have changed a little bit because (Duckworth and Moutet) are completely different players… but I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully we can both have a good match.”

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