Australia’s top tennis player, Alex De Minaur, has declared his readiness to chase his Olympic dream in Paris after a hip injury threatened to derail his participation. The world number six was forced to withdraw from his Wimbledon quarterfinal clash against Novak Djokovic earlier this month after suffering a cartilage tear in his hip during his fourth-round victory over Arthur Fils. This injury, coupled with his absence from the Tokyo Games due to COVID-19, sparked concerns about his Olympic prospects. However, De Minaur took to social media on Monday to announce his return to the international stage.
“To finally be able to represent Australia in the Olympics is a dream come true,” De Minaur expressed. “I’m very passionate when I play for my country and wear the green and gold, so this is another one of those moments. I’m extremely excited to lace up for Paris 2024.” De Minaur leads an impressive Australian team that includes Alexei Popyrin, Ellen Perez, Matthew Ebden, John Peers, Olivia Gadecki, Ajla Tomljanovic, Daria Saville, and Rinky Hijikata. The Olympic tennis tournament is set to take place on the clay courts of Roland Garros from July 27 to August 4.
De Minaur has enjoyed a stellar year, breaking into the top 10 of the world rankings for the first time and demonstrating his prowess on clay after reaching the French Open quarterfinals in June. “I showed that I’m perfectly capable,” De Minaur asserted at the end of his French Open campaign. “The Olympics will be best-of-three sets. There’s no reason why I can’t put on a good showing, perform, and win matches.” De Minaur’s determination to compete in Paris and his strong form on clay make him a formidable contender for a medal. Australia’s tennis team, bolstered by the presence of De Minaur, will be looking to make its mark at the Games.
