By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday November 1, 2024
Paris has always been known as a critical tour stop with big implications when it comes to the ATP Finals, and this year is no different.
Just ask Alex de Minaur.
The Aussie, in the midst of his best season as a pro, has vaulted into contention for the ATP’s prestigious year-end event this week by reaching the quarterfinals in Paris. De Minaur now sits at eighth in the standings 25 points ahead of Andrey Rublev, and can move into sixth, passing Casper Ruud and Novak Djokovic, if he defeats Holger Rune in Paris today.
On Thursday in Paris De Minaur notched a gritty 5-7 6-2 6-3 over Jack Draper to match his personal-best win total for a single season at 47 (also 2022). He will bid for his 250th career win on Friday, which would make him the second player born in or after 1999 to record as many wins, along with Jannik Sinner (255).
Keeping his Turin dream alive 😮💨@alexdeminaur ends Draper’s unbeaten run winning 5-7 6-2 6-3 to move into the last 8 in Paris#RolexParisMasters pic.twitter.com/1nhw4NbRoy
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 31, 2024
The 25-year-old has dealt with a serious hip injury, which he suffered at Wimbledon, in the second half of the season, but it hasn’t slowed his progress materially.
De Minaur is bidding to become the first Australian player to qualify for the ATP Finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.
In January, the World No.10 became the first Aussie male to hold a Top-10 ranking since Hewitt in 2006. He topped out at No.6 in the ranking after Wimbledon, but could be headed higher in the not too distant future.
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