Alex de Minaur vs Novak Djokovic Wimbledon LIVE: Aussie’s next crack at seven-time champion

Huge let-off for Demon with that Djokovic forehand miss on break point. Very uncharacteristic from the 24-time grand slam champion, particularly after his two double faults in the opening game to drop serve for only the second time in the championships. Demon 2-0. A great start for the Aussie, but there was still a warning in that service game. Demon made only 3/10 first serves, and spent the game having to beat Djokovic from the baseline. But the early indications are that Demon will try to get to the net as much as he can today.

And de Minaur consolidates his break. He was pushed on serve, facing one break point, but the Australian hung on. It’s remarkably windy out there and the players are still finding their range.

Alex de Minaur leads Novak Djokovic 2-0

Well, well … what an opening game.

Novak Djokovic offered up two double faults, and de Minaur took full advantage. The Australian has his nose in front. What a confidence boost.

Alex de Minaur leads Novak Djokovic 1-0

Warm applause for both Novak Djokovic and Australia’s own Alex de Minaur as they walk onto Wimbledon’s famed centre court. The weather is far cooler than the start of the tournament, but the roof is open and we will hopefully avoid the thunder and rain of yesterday. Very few people are giving de Minaur a chance, from ex-players to media pundits, but Demon is used to doubters and has made a living out of proving them wrong. He is undoubtedly a significant underdog, but there are scenarios where he reaches the Wimbledon quarter-finals for a second straight year. The non-negotiable is he must serve well, and you would imagine he will have to land upwards of 55 per cent of his first serves to consistently hold serve.

Alex de Minaur’s muted reaction said it all.

Reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year for the first time was a career milestone – and he would face seven-time champion Novak Djokovic – but the Australian star’s expression and the ginger way he walked to his on-court interview raised an alarm.

Alex de Minaur did not look like he had just made the Wimbledon quarter-finals after his win over Arthur Fils last year.Credit: AP

De Minaur played down the issue after jarring his right hip in a sliding manoeuvre on the third-last point of his win over Frenchman Arthur Fils, saying it was nothing but “a scare”.

But it all came to a head on the morning of the Djokovic clash, when this masthead watched de Minaur make it through only 10 minutes of a half-hour practice session at Aorangi Park with Lleyton Hewitt.

Soon after, de Minaur called a snap press conference to announce he was withdrawing.

Scans confirmed he sustained a muscle tear high on his right hip, near his abdomen, and he risked doing further damage if he played. The biggest match of de Minaur’s life was off.

“I’m devastated,” he said at the time.

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