Alex de Minaur blasts Australian Open organizers over their schedule
The 19-year-old Alex de Minaur had a day to remember in his native Sydney on Saturday, with the double action waiting for him just two days before the start of the first Grand Slam of the season in Melbourne. The Australian no. 1 couldn't play his semi-final match against Gilles Simon on Friday night due to rain and they were moved for Saturday morning, just seven hours before the potential final against Andreas Seppi who managed to finish his match on Friday. The Aussie needed an hour and 34 minutes to wrap up the win and get the more comfortable part of his busy day done, saving all five break points he faced to notch a 6-3, 6-2 victory and book the place in the final.
After the match, Alex was furious about the Australian Open organizers, facing Pedro Sousa in the first round of the home Major on Margaret Court Arena already on Monday. De Minaur explained he asked organizers to push his match to Tuesday (in that case, he or Pedro would have had to play in back-to-back days) but that was a lost battle once they released their Monday program, saying they have been punishing the home players in some way for competing at home tournaments before the Open. The youngster ended his Sydney campaign in the best possible way, beating Andreas Seppi 7-5, 7-6 in the final to lift his maiden ATP title and become the first ATP winner born in 1999!
With no time to celebrate, Alex flew to Melbourne on Saturday night, hitting a light practice on Sunday and hoping for the best against the Portuguese at the beginning of the Australian Open, seeking his second win at home Major.
"What is more annoying is me having to play Monday at the Australian Open and not getting helped out as a fellow Aussie at your home Slam," de Minaur said. "I think they are punishing Aussies for playing deep in their home tournaments and I think that's not what they should be doing. Yeah, I have asked for my match to be pushed back. They came out with the schedule before they even saw the halves or saw who was in the final in the weeks prior. I think that is pretty poor. I think they are punishing Aussies for playing deep in their home tournaments and I think that’s not what they should be doing."
from Tennis World USA http://bit.ly/2FuPZY3
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