Alex de Minaur could not be deflected by either rain showers or a determined compatriot as he began his assault on Wimbledon’s grass citadel with a straight sets victory. James Duckworth provided obdurate opposition but despite forcing a trio of tie-breaks Australia’s No.8 could not take a set off the national No.
1. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Alex de Minaur defeats James Duckworth. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today With Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt watching on de Minaur won 7-6 (7-1) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4).
A few yards away on the swathe of outside courts another Australian also progressed. Alexei Popyrin defeated Thiago Monteiro in four sets in just over two-and-a-half hours. Adam Walton followed them into the second round with a straight sets victory over Federico Coria but Alja Tomljanovic went out in the women’s event in disappointing fashion to her old rival Jelena Ostapenko.
While the dogged Duckworth gave de Minaur a useful workout his resistance will have been frustrating. Combined with the inclement weather it kept the ninth seed occupied for much of the day. Beginning at 11am local time (8pm AEST Tuesday) the match did not finish until nearly 4.
30pm despite taking barely three hours play. One shower arrived just after de Minaur had taken the first set, the second with the third-set tie-break poised at 2-0 to de Minaur. When they returned, around an hour later, de Minaur sealed victory within five minutes, Duckworth going long on the third match poi.
