Perfect 10: Demon recovers from brink of defeat to win title
The Australian became a 10-time champion on the ATP Tour on Monday (AEST), recovering from 5-2 down in the final set of the Washington Open final to outlast childhood rival Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) in another performance packed with mental resilience.
De Minaur saved three separate championship points in a nerve-jangling, 14-minute service game at 4-5, including a defensive backhand lob that barely touched the sideline on the third of them.
He never trailed in the tie-break – but twice handed back mini-break leads – before sealing victory after three hours and two minutes of tense and absorbing tennis that owed to repeatedly brave shot-making in the toughest moments.
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De Minaur is now only one career title behind Australian greats Patrick Rafter and Mark Philippoussis. He is the fifth Australian to win in Washington, with Nick Kyrgios the most recent in 2019 and 2022.
'I don't know [how I did that]. It's something about this court. I did it in 2018 against [Andrey] Rublev, and honestly, I just kind of knew I could do it,' de Minaur said.
'I just backed myself and told myself to commit, no matter what, and if I lost this match, it was going to be on my terms, and today went my way. I've had a couple of brutal ones not go my way, so I'm glad this one [did].
'I'm very happy with where I am at the moment, [and] how I'm dealing with things on and off the court. I had the mindset that even if today didn't go my way, it was a very positive week, so I was proud of my efforts, no matter what, but, geez, it feels good to hold my 10th title.'
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