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Alex de Minaur probably doesn’t mind rain delays any more. The world No.11 is the first Australian man since Lleyton Hewitt in 2007 to reach the fourth round at Roland-Garros, fighting back from a break down in the second and third sets to oust German Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 in a match halted for more than four hours.

Alex de Minaur has stormed into the fourth round at Roland-Garros for the first time. Credit: Getty Images De Minaur celebrated with gusto afterwards, roaring towards a section of the crowd and then his player’s box , which included his co-coach Matt Reid, agent Kathryn Oyeniyi, mother Esther and girlfriend Katie Boulter. All three of his matches so far have been delayed or interrupted, with the event being mockingly branded the “Drench Open”.



Only Roland-Garros’ two main courts – Court Suzanne-Lenglen and Court Philippe-Chatrier – have retractable roofs, and de Minaur has not escaped off-Broadway scheduling despite his rankings ascent. He beat Struff all the way out on court 14. De Minaur had never advanced beyond the second round at the claycourt major in seven previous attempts, but is now one win away from matching his best grand slam result anywhere.

A familiar opponent, Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev, stands between him and the quarter-finals in a showdown certain to be on one of Roland-Garros’ two biggest courts. “[It was] another huge mental battle. I would probably say it was one of my best performances mentally I’v.

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