By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday July 23, 2024
Alex de Minaur was gutted when he had to pull out of his Wimbledon quarterfinal with Novak Djokovic with a microtear in his hip cartilage. After he pulled out of the Championships, it looked like De Minaur might have to miss several weeks, maybe even months, but he’s declared himself fit and on the path to participate in the Paris Olympics, which begin this weekend at Roland-Garros.
"I'm devastated, but I had to pull out due to a hip injury, a little tear of the fiber cartilage that is at the end to the adductor," De Minaur said at the time. "I felt a loud crack during the last three points of my match against [Arthur] Fils and got a scan yesterday and it confirms that this was the injury. [There is] a high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court."
Apparently things have gone well in the ensuing days for the World No.6, who is in the midst of his best season on tour.
“To finally be able to represent Australia in the Olympics is a dream come true. I’m very passionate when I play for my country and wear the green and gold,” De Minaur, who was forced to pull out of the 2020 Tokyo Games due to Covid, said in a post on Instagram.
Australian team chief Anna Meares said it was encouraging that de Minaur would join the team in Paris, but cautioned that his participation is not a guarantee. The draw will be held on Thursday in Paris.
“It’s really great news – we’re actually expecting Alex to arrive in the village ahead of the official draw and we know he’s been working with his rehab team quite extensively since the conclusion of Wimbledon,” she said. “He’s hungry to be here, he wants to be a part of this team and we will offer as much support as we can in that process.
“We’re leaving it in the hands of Alex and his rehabilitation team … it will be a decision purely by them.”