Alex de Minaur won the big moments against fellow Australian James Duckworth, triumphing in three sets.
But he was tested. Each set was decided in a tiebreaker.
As the Age’s Marc McGowan explained after the match:
The world No.9’s 7-6 (7-1), 7-6 (7-3), 7-6 (7-4) defeat of countryman Duckworth on an overcast, cool London day was mission accomplished in reaching the second round, but far from straightforward, and actually downright difficult at times.
Alex de Minaur did not have it all his own way, but booked his second-round spot at Wimbledon.Credit: AP
Duckworth served unsuccessfully for the second and third sets, after breaking de Minaur back to force a first-set tie-breaker, in a contest he stubbornly saved 16 of the 19 break points he faced.
Some of Duckworth’s best tennis came on those points, which frustrated his ninth-seeded rival, but an untrustworthy forehand cost him.
“It definitely wasn’t easy. I knew that going in,” de Minaur said.
“It’s one of those matches that can easily turn on its head. I feel like I had a lot of chances … so maybe if I played those points a bit better, then the match looks a bit differently. But it’s never easy playing a fellow Aussie – playing ‘Ducks’, who’s a great grasscourt player – and starting your Wimbledon campaign, but I’m happy to be through.”
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