Alex de Minaur is on the charge again after safely getting through to the last 16 at the Shanghai Masters.
De Minaur defeated Polish performer Kamil Majchrzak in straight sets to progress once again at an ATP 1000 event.
De Minaur praised Jannik Sinner after losing to him last week at the China Open, and with the Italian out of the Shanghai event, perhaps he will fancy a deeper run this week.
Australian player De Minaur has spoken about the courts in Shanghai and now he’s delivered more information on something he finds incredibly difficult at this particular event.
Alex de Minaur shares what is really rare about the Shanghai Masters
After a long and hard year, the last thing lots of the players need is to be heading to Shanghai, where temperatures are pretty excruciating at times.
De Minaur is from Australia, so naturally, he’s not averse to playing in tough conditions, although he’s admitted that they are particularly bad out in Shanghai.
After coming through against his lower-ranked opponent, De Minaur shared what was tricky about playing on the main court in Shanghai.
He said: “Look, I came in this week knowing how tough the conditions were going to be, so the mindset was surviving and being ready for battle. I was glad I was able to compose myself in the second set and finish it off in two, but yes, it’s very hard work out there.
“Although we play all over the world in some really hot venues, it’s very rare we have conditions as hot and as humid as this one, so I was pleased I could show off my fitness and show people where I am in that sense because it’s very tough.
“Well, today is officially going to be my first ice bath, so I’m very much looking forward to that, I think it’s going to feel very refreshing!”
What Alex de Minaur wrote on the camera after Shanghai Masters win
One tradition these days is that the winning player on the show court writes a message to the fans on the main camera after the match.
De Minaur grabbed the pen after his win and wrote a comical message that was perhaps a little bit sarcastic to say the very least.
The Australian wrote the message, ‘Not that hot’, with a smiley face underneath to suggest that he was perhaps being a little bit tongue in cheek.
De Minaur will now fancy his chances of a deep run at this ATP 1000 event with no Carlos Alcaraz or Sinner for company and with the year drawing to a close, this tournament is now a really good opportunity for someone to claim a title.
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