They admit it is like large brother versus little brother as Jordan Thompson takes on Alex de Minaur in a high-stakes all-Australian fourth-round US Open showdown in New York on Tuesday.
Having grown up collectively in Sydney, de Minaur says he is without end indebted to Thompson for taking him below his wing when the pair first met at Olympic Park greater than a decade in the past.
De Minaur was a wide-eyed 14-year-old, Thompson 5 years his senior and simply beginning to make his manner within the skilled ranks.
“He was the man I used to be trying as much as and he is at all times given me a whole lot of time,” de Minaur mentioned.
Alex de Minaur, John Millman, Alexei Popyrin, Lleyton Hewitt, John Friends and Jordan Thompson forward of their Davis Cup qualifier in Adelaide in 2019. De Minaur, Popyrin and Thompson have all made it to the fourth spherical of the US Open, whereas Friends and Millman received Olympic gold a number of weeks in the past. (Getty Photos: James Elsby)
“He is helped me out lots. I’ve discovered lots by means of him, even when he was taking part in the professionals, the slams and I used to be nonetheless within the juniors.
“At Roland Garros, he would come over to (Court docket Suzanne) Lenglen as a result of that is the one facet the juniors are allowed and he would spend time with me.”
Extra importantly, Thompson had one thing de Minaur did not have again in these days.
“I bear in mind one of many largest issues is that he had a automotive,” de Minaur mentioned.
“So he would drive us to the fitness center, which in any other case was like a 15, 20-minute stroll.
“I will not identify the automotive nevertheless it did the job.
“So we have gone from that. Now we’re placing ourselves within the deep finish of tournaments and, look, it is a good downside to have that we’re taking part in one another within the fourth spherical.
Alex de Minaur may turn out to be the primary Australian since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years in the past to achieve the second week of all 4 slams in a single season. (Getty Photos: Matthew Stockman)
“It is thrilling. We have grown up collectively.”
Thompson reckons it is “unreal” for Australian tennis to be taking part in de Minaur for a grand slam quarterfinal berth however is able to forged friendship apart for a number of hours on Tuesday morning from about 7am (AEST).
“Tennis is tennis,” he mentioned.
“We’ll be mates off the court docket and on the court docket. We’ll simply be going about our enterprise.
“I imply, it’s robust to play a mate nevertheless it’s not the tip of the world.”
Regardless of taking out world quantity seven Hubert Hurkacz and Italian seed Matteo Arnaldi, each in straight units, Thompson is the underdog.
That is the second time Jordan Thompson has made it by means of to the fourth-round of the US Open, after additionally doing it in 2020. (Getty Photos: Luke Hales)
He is anticipating to play “a whole lot of robust factors” in opposition to his Davis Cup teammate.
“Lots of balls coming again. An incredible psychological effort,” Thompson mentioned.
“That is why he is received to 6 on the earth. He is been taking part in unbelievable tennis and he is one of many hardest opponents on the market.
“So he makes it tremendous, tremendous robust.”
De Minaur conceded he stepped up a gear or two in his scintillating third-round win over Dan Evans, having entered the match below a health cloud after being sidelined since Wimbledon with a hip damage.
“I am trending upwards and that’s precisely the way in which I wish to be trending,” he mentioned.
The world quantity 10 is just not content material with changing into the primary Australian since Lleyton Hewitt 20 years in the past to achieve the second week of all 4 slams in a single season.
“Human beings, we’re by no means glad, proper? We at all times need extra,” the French Open and Wimbledon quarter-finalist mentioned.
“A few years in the past this was my purpose, to make the second week of slams as a result of it is one thing that was so tough for me to realize in earlier years.
“However now it is about getting (to the) deep finish of tournaments. So I wish to be going deep, taking part in with the very best gamers on the earth.
“It was a giant stepping stone getting by means of the primary week, however now the second week is when the massive match begins, and that is when you’ve got to play your finest tennis.
“So hopefully I can try this.”
The winner may have an enormous alternative on Thursday (AEST) in opposition to both British world quantity 25 Jack Draper or unseeded Czech Tomas Machac to achieve their maiden grand slam semi-final.
Australia’s Alexei Popyrin was as a result of play American Frances Tiafoe on Monday morning from 9am (AEST) of their fourth-round conflict.
AAP
