James Duckworth loves Alex de Minaur and looks up to him as a role model for Australian tennis - but it won't stop him trying to ride a bit of good fortune and some fine form to derail 'Demon's' Wimbledon dream.
The resurgent 32-year-old Sydney stalwart Duckworth was strolling to the practice courts on Friday when he learned that, as an alternate in the main draw, he had been drafted in to replace injured Frenchman Corentin Moutet and take on the country's No.1 player in Tuesday's opener.
Now the resilient figure known to all his colleagues as 'Ducks' intends to take full advantage of his 'lucky loser' inclusion following his loss in Thursday's final round of qualifying, with even de Minaur admitting on Saturday: "He's dangerous."
