There is not a scrap of hesitation when Alex de Minaur singles out his greatest Australian Open memory – a match point-saving debut as a wiry and wide-eyed 17-year-old against Gerald Melzer.
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Eight years on and now the spearhead of Australian tennis ranks, De Minaur still holds his prime-time debut beneath the bright floodlights of Rod Laver Arena against Rafael Nadal in 2019 as a close second.
While that one fell his more experienced rival’s way, it served as a reminder how much he needed to close the gap if he was to realise his top-10 ambitions.
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On Tuesday, Australia’s first top-eight seed at a major since Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon in 2006 brings those hopes back to Rod Laver Arena under lights for his opening round against Botic Van de Zandschulp.
“The debut. That’s always the first kind of moment that you step out on court, playing on Show Court 3, my first-ever Slam against Gerald Melzer, and somehow finding a way to win that match in five sets, that was a pretty epic feeling that I’ll never forget,” De Minaur said.
“Then if I had to say something else, probably, look, I was able to play Rafa on RLA. That was pretty cool. I’ve played Novak on RLA. That wasn’t so much fun, sadly (smiling).
“If not, it’s probably the first time playing prime time on RLA, because that’s something as a kid you watch way too often, and you always want to be a part of those types of matches.
“Making it in the tournament for starters, but then to be playing in that prime-time slot, that’s pretty special.”
