De Minaur bedazzled by Sinner magic

After 10 straight losses to Jannik Sinner, Australian Alex de Minaur admits he has no answers for the all-conquering game of the Italian world No. 1.

The top Australian on the ATP went down in a pro forma 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 to Sinner, exiting his home Open in the quarter-finals and wondering what he has to do against a player who obviously has his number on court.

“I mean, he’s built this aura up from beating everyone,” De Minaur said after going out in less than two hours.

“It’s not like he’s just had a good week here or good week there. He’s just beaten everyone.

“The fact that he’s got this top level that he can do this to players – it’s pretty tough. 

“You go into the match, and you know it’s going to be a battle, it’s going to be tough, you’re going to try different things. 

“But then you’re an hour and 30 in, and you’re struggling to win games, and you’re trying to find ways to get on the board.

“It’s pretty surreal.”

While the majority of the Laver arena crowd was supporting the Aussie, the cheers did nothing for de Minaur’s game against the Italian juggernaut..

“They want me to go out there, make it competitive, try to make it into a match,and I’m trying my best,” de Minaur said.

“If anything, it’s frustrating that I can’t do it. I’m doing my best, but I can’t make it into even a match where the crowd can get behind and start supporting.”

He said that Sinner at the moment looks unstoppable as he cruises towards a second straight title here,

“He comes out of the blocks in the sets so well. It feels like the first three games, four games he gets the early break, and then we never really end up getting to later stages of sets where all of a sudden you can have scoreboard pressure.

“It is disappointing. I don’t want to leave like this, but I can only get better and come back stronger next year.”