Alex de Minaur will become a grand slam champion - and if it doesn't happen in Paris this week, then Australia could be saluting a new king at its own major in Melbourne.
That's the prediction of former world No.1 Mats Wilander, who's joined the chorus of appreciation for the Sydneysider's shock breakthrough run to the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, where he'll be again an outsider to beat Olympic champion Alexander Zverev on Wednesday.
"It's no surprise to me he's in the quarters," Wilander told reporters at Roland Garros, reckoning he sees shades of de Minaur's idol Lleyton Hewitt in the 25-year-old's ability to squeeze every bit of improvement out of himself.
