Painful finish as Alex de Minaur reaches first Wimbledon quarter-final

NEW DELHI: Australia's Alex de Minaur advanced to his maiden Wimbledon quarter-final on Monday. He secured a four-set victory against France's Arthur Fils, winning the match 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
However, as the match concluded, De Minaur seemed to be in discomfort, wincing with pain.
The Australian's next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune, which is scheduled to take place later on Monday.The winner of that encounter will face De Minaur in the quarter-finals.
As De Minaur played the winning shot on Court One, he appeared to twist his ankle. He walked cautiously back to his courtside chair, visibly affected by the incident.
Upon sitting down, he turned towards his box and shook his head, a gesture noticed by his supporters, including fellow Australian and 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt, as well as his tennis-playing girlfriend, Katie Boulter.
"I'll be alright," AFP quoted De Minaur as saying in his on-court interview.
"I'm super-proud to play in front of you guys. I had a few problems getting over the finish line and made it harder than it should have been."
Fils, ranked 34th in the world, made his debut in the fourth round of a Grand Slam tournament. However, his performance was marred by a staggering 66 unforced errors, which ultimately led to his defeat.
In his career, De Minaur has proven his ability to compete against top players, having secured victories over both Djokovic and Rune. His triumph over the 24-time Grand Slam champion came earlier this year at the United Cup in Australia.
Furthermore, De Minaur has demonstrated his prowess against Rune, defeating him on two occasions in 2023. One of these victories took place on the grass courts of Queen's Club, showcasing his versatility across different surfaces.
"I'll try my best and play my heart out," said De Minaur, who is a force to be reckoned with on grass having clinched the 's-Hertogenbosch title in the Netherlands last month.