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Alex de Minaur was on a mission at the United Cup in Perth on Wednesday. The home hero defeated world no. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 33 minutes, helping Australia beat Serbia and reach the semi-final. De Minaur looked determined to challenge the world's best player after taking only five games against him a year ago.
Alex showed variety and aggression, leading him toward a notable victory over the rival, who could not play at his best due to an injury. De Minaur was eager to silence the criticism toward him, improving his game and proving many people wrong.
Djokovic struggled with his right wrist, feeling the pain and failing to excel from his serve and forehand. Also, Novak could not find his usual return patterns, taking only one point behind Alex's first serve and failing to create a break chance.
The Aussie pushed strong in a couple of return games, delivering one break in each set and producing the Serb's first loss in Australia since January 2018! Novak claimed the encounter's first game with a backhand winner, and Alex found the rhythm behind the initial shot right from the start.
The home favorite locked the result at 2-2 with a service winner and claimed a cracking point at the net two games later for 3-3.
Alex de Minaur scored a notable victory over Novak Djokovic in Perth.
Feeling the pain, Djokovic started to slow down on his serve in the seventh game, allowing de Minaur to climb back from 15-40 and create two break points.
Novak denied them with two winners and fired a strong serve for a hold and 4-3. Sticking to his game plan, Alex left those chances behind and served well in game eight, preparing to push hard on the return in the next one. He created three break points after Novak's forehand mistake and seized the second to open a 5-4 lead and serve for the set.
De Minaur showed no sign of nerves in the tenth game, attacking and holding at 15 for 6-4 after 49 minutes, already doing more than at last year's Australian Open. Novak played a bit better in his games early in the second set, and it changed at 3-3.
The Serb failed to bring the game home from 40-15, facing a break point after a wayward backhand.
The Aussie converted it after the rival's double fault, opening a 4-3 gap and moving closer to the finish line.
Alex held at love in game eight, doing everything right and forcing Novak to serve to stay in the match. Djokovic held at 30, reducing the gap to 5-4 and chasing a desired break. Instead, Alex painted a forehand down the line winner for three match points in game ten.
Novak erased them but failed to make an extra step, with the home favorite creating the fourth match point with an unreturned serve. The Aussie seized it after the Serb's wayward backhand, beating world no. 1 for the first time and proving his doubters wrong.
"Novak is an unbelievable competitor; this is a special win. It feels surreal to beat him in Australia. Today was my day, and I'm here to prove many people wrong with a high level and variety," Alex de Minaur said.