‘Why do it in the first 18?’ De Minaur savours biggest win in Paris

Alex de Minaur, for so long a “nearly man” of world tennis, has earned a major career breakthrough by defeating former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev in an epic affair at the Paris Masters.

The Sydneysider, who has built an excellent career while always seemingly coming up just short against the true elite, earned his first-ever victory over a top-five ranked player at the 19th attempt with his thrilling 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 victory over the Russian.

De Minaur had lost all his previous four encounters with the world No.3 — including two matches in which he had won the first set — and it looked as if history would repeat itself on Wednesday on the Bercy hard courts as Medvedev fought back to take a 2-0 lead in the decider.

But De Minaur, ever the battler, regrouped, went on the offensive after what had been a remarkable cat-and-mouse affair studded by lengthy, probing rallies, and eventually looked, mentally and physically, stronger than the former world No.1.

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