By Erik Gudris | @atntennis | Saturday, June 1, 2024
Photo credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson
Sometimes for a player to earn victory, they just need one person in their corner offering their support.
Typically, that’s a player’s team, coach, or significant other.
Yet, for Australia’s Alex de Minaur, a young fan in the crowd made all the difference. Now de Minaur hopes social media will help him find the fan before his next match at Roland Garros.
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The No. 11 seed de Minaur reached the fourth round on Saturday with a hard fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
During the match, a young boy close to the court could be seen offering vocal encouragement to the Aussie throughout the match. It was significant because the young fan, along with the players, endured several rain delays and the chilly weather, but remained at the match from start to finish.
“That young lad was there from the very first point till the last with five hours of rain delay. He was this little kid that every single change of ends, every single point I won, he was screaming at my face. You know, I'm, like, looking at him and thinking of, you know, if I was a fan, I would probably be back home, because it was bloody cold out there, de Minaur said afterwards.
“I don't understand what this kid is doing, but, oh, he gave me life. Every single change of ends I'm looking at him, locking eyes with him. I just gave him a hug. I was, like, Mate... It was a relief more than anything. It was amazing. I appreciate this kid (smiling).
“You know, yeah, the fact that he's spent 10 hours at the court today in the freezing cold pumping me up, I was happy that I was able to get a win together with him.”
After he won, de Minaur went up to the young fan and embraced him to thank him for his support. He was asked what he gave the fan.
“Gave him a towel. I would have given him everything in my bag. I mean, I just wasn't thinking straight with the emotions, but he deserved everything; racquets, shoes, whatever he wanted.”
Later, de Minaur took to social media asking everyone on the internet if they could help him identify the young fan in hopes he can offer him a ticket to his next match.
So if you know who this young super fan is, let Alex know. Next up for de Minaur is No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev.
Photo Credit: Corleve/Mark Peterson