Alex de Minaur has spoiled the coming-of-age party for "an incredible talent" as he marched into the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters in his first clay-court tournament of the season.
The Australian had his hands full in Thursday's last-16 clash against rising star Alexander Blockx, who'd celebrated his 21st birthday just the day before with the best win of his career, before finally subduing the Belgian qualifier 7-5 7-6 (7-4) on Court des Princes at the Monte-Carlo Country Club.
It thrust de Minaur into the quarters at the prestigious ATP 1000 event which he really enjoys, having also made the semis last year, and helped erase the disappointment of two recent early exits at Indian Wells and Miami.
