The best know how to win when they’re not playing well, and Alex de Minaur submitted his application to that exclusive club on Saturday with a clunky but determined victory over potent Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo to book a place in the Australian Open’s round of 16.
The Australian looked out of sorts on his serve and was rarely comfortable against the powerful forehand of his opponent, but he handled the adversity like a No 8 seed to win 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-3 in close to four hours.
