The lure of competing with the tennis heavyweights at the elite season-ending championship is pushing Alex de Minaur through the pain barrier in New York.
De Minaur candidly admitted he was far from fully fit after returning from a hip injury to safely progress to the second round of the US Open and is no guarantee to continue at Flushing Meadows.
Lightning speed and agility are the world No.10's chief weapons, and de Minaur is lamenting having to play compromised.