Alex de Minaur will spearhead Australia’s Olympic tennis team in Paris next month, a team also comprising Ajla Tomljanovic, Alexei Popyrin, Chris O’Connell, Rinky Hijikata, Ellen Perez, Daria Saville, Matt Ebden and John Peers.
Paris, France, 26 June 2024 | Dan Imhoff
Alex de Minaur’s dream to don the green and gold at an Olympic Games will finally be realised next month.
The 25-year-old has been announced as part of the Australian Olympic tennis team alongside Ajla Tomljanovic, Matt Ebden, Ellen Perez, Alexei Popyrin, Chris O’Connell, Rinky Hijikata, Daria Saville, and John Peers for Paris.
De Minaur was forced to miss his debut in Tokyo after testing positive to Covid on the eve of the Games.
“It feels great, it’s a dream come true. I’ve always wanted to be an Olympian. I’m super excited to be able to represent the green and gold in Paris,” De Minaur said.
“It’s going to be extra special, that’s for sure, to play my first Olympic Games. Obviously last time around I got a little bit unlucky to not be able to be in Tokyo and I’ve had my eye set on Paris and I’m super excited to be a part of the team.”
Following a breakout run to the Roland Garros quarterfinals earlier this month, a feat which drew high praise from his fourth-round victim Daniil Medvedev, De Minaur was eager to return to the site in July with a newfound confidence unlocked on clay.
While expectations were kept in check, there was no uncertainty as to his ambitions for Paris.
“It’s super important, super special and of course you want to do your best because you’re not just playing for yourself, you’re playing for your team and your country, so that’s what makes it truly, truly special,” De Minaur said.
“I would do anything that I could to try to get a medal for Australia. Obviously it’s going to be super tough. It’s not going to be easy by any means but I’m going to do my best and leave my heart out (there).
“The next six weeks looks like prepping, a lot of tennis being played, a lot of focus on that, trying to get to the Olympics in the best possible form and hopefully I have the ideal prep to go out … and play some of my best tennis.”
Tomljanovic, who fell to eventual bronze medallist Elina Svitolina in the second round in Tokyo three years ago, was named in her second Australian Olympic team.
The 31-year-old missed three of the four Grand Slam tournaments last year due to a knee injury, but has
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