London: Lleyton Hewitt was already winning ATP Tour titles at the same age that Spanish-based Sydneysider Alex De Minaur will on Sunday contest his maiden junior grand slam final at Wimbledon. Hewitt has been both inspiration and support for the 17-year-old, who lists the Davis Cup captain and Roger Federer as the players he admires most.
Hewitt, the former No.1 and dual grand slam champion, has been in the crowd for for each of De Minaur's matches so far. The teenager knows because he recognises the voice and the accent. "It's always good because whenever he says anything I can sort of hear it and know it's him."
![Alex De Minaur, of Australia, is into the Wimbledon boys final after beating American Ulises Blanch on Friday.](/web/20160711085828im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/1/z/2/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gq1yxe.png/1468083827276.jpg)
"Lleyton's always been like a role model for me and I also love the elegance of Roger, I've always loved it. They've always been my two favourite players and I really aspire to be able to achieve what they have done."
Like Hewitt, the 183-centimetre junior has only a relatively modest physical stature in the land of tennis giants. "He's also a great competitor," De Minaur said of Hewitt. "I like to think that I'm not too bad in that aspect as well.
"I try to fight every ball and find a way to win matches, which sometimes look like they're not gonna go your way, but I'm always gonna fight until the end and sometimes you do turn around matches."
The pair have spoken several times, Hewitt urging the youngster to take each point on its merits and fight for each. So no surprises there. "It's been just great to have his insight, especially such a legend like he is," De Minaur said. "He's encouraging me, supporting me on court, and it's pretty special to look on the sidelines and see Lleyton supporting me."
Seeking to become the first Australian to win a junior singles title at the All England Club since Saville and Ashleigh Barty completed the double in 2011. De Minaur has eliminated the third and second seeds in consecutive rounds, and in contrasting circumstances, and on Sunday will play Canada's No.5, Denis Shapovalov, for the title. It's been quite the tournament for the boys and men of Canada, considering Milos Raonic will contest his first major final later on Sunday.
"It's good to finally get over that semi-final barrier," said de Minaur, who reached the last four at both the US and Australian Opens. "I'm just enjoying every second of it. I think it helped that I didn't put any pressure on myself. I just came out on court just wanting to play my game and just be on top of it."
His is an interesting back-story. Born in Australia to a Spanish mother and Uruguayan father, De Minaur's family was split between Spain and Australia before settling in Alicante with long-time coach Adolfo Guitierrez about a year ago. "I play for Australia, I was born there and I feel Australian," he says, also happy to have just six months of year 12, which he is studying via distance education, still to go.
In Alicante, the bilingual De Minaur practises and plays on clay, mostly, but loves grass the most, always has. Which helps at Wimbledon, he thinks. "Liking the surface is gonna make you play better on it. I think grass has always been my favourite surface and best surface, so it was probably the best (grand slam) chance I had, but I'm just ecstatic to be where I am right now."
His style, he says, he adapts to the conditions and environment. "My best shot? I'm not sure. I reckon my backhand or my slice. Since I was little it's always been my best shot and what I've built my game off. In fact I try to base my backhand on Lleyton's a bit, but I see myself as an aggressive player who likes to take the net, and also a little bit crafty at times."
Rankings, he says, are just numbers, although the ITF media guide lists his ambition as reaching the top 10. He wants to soon start playing more Futures events, then transition to Challengers, "and see how I'm going (against) the bigger guys".
"The most important thing for me is just to stay healthy and just go day by day. I don't want to get too ahead of myself; I want to always stay humble, stay as if I'm just playing tennis cos I love it. I don't want to start winning some matches and then believe that I'm unbelievable, that's never gonna happen. I'm just gonna stick to the basics and just enjoying life."
How refreshing. A big tick for that answer, young man. Can he imagine even being Nick Kyrgios, and not being mad about the game? "I'm guess I'm just lucky I've always loved it. I still don't see playing tennis as a job. I see it as an activity, which I love, so I think that really helps me day to day.
"I actually enjoy being able to play tough three-setters on court. Playing three-hour matches, I actually enjoy that, it's what gets me up each day."
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