In an exciting start to his title defense at the Washington Open, Alex De Minaur emerged victorious against Stefanos Tsitsipas with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 on Wednesday. This victory not only marks a significant achievement for De Minaur but also sets the stage for an intriguing all-Australian match against 17-year-old Cruz Hewitt.
Tsitsipas, a former world number three and a seasoned competitor from Greece, had dominated their previous encounters, winning 12 of the last 13 matches. However, De Minaur displayed resilience and determination, overcoming a rocky beginning to turn the match in his favor. After facing a break point early in the fourth game, De Minaur faltered momentarily, allowing Tsitsipas to break serve with two consecutive double faults.
Despite this setback, the Australian rallied back, breaking Tsitsipas twice and surviving another break point in the tenth game to secure the first set. The second set saw Tsitsipas regain momentum, breaking De Minaur early and managing to hold on to force a decisive third set. However, De Minaur capitalized on an unforced error from Tsitsipas, achieving an early break that he maintained until the end.
Reflecting on his performance, De Minaur acknowledged the challenges posed by Tsitsipas, stating, “It’s no secret my head-to-head isn’t the greatest against him. He’s gotten the better of me many, many times. I’m happy with how it went today… played the match on its own merits, and ultimately found a way in a tricky, tricky match.”
Looking ahead, De Minaur is set to face Cruz Hewitt, the son of Australian tennis legend Lleyton Hewitt. Cruz recently celebrated his first ATP Tour victory, making this upcoming match particularly compelling. De Minaur humorously noted that he wouldn’t be surprised if Lleyton, now the Davis Cup captain, is cheering for his son during their clash.
In other notable matches from the day, third-seeded American Taylor Fritz advanced to the quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak, winning 6-3, 6-4. On the women’s side, Naomi Osaka, the third seed, also secured her spot in the quarter-finals after her opponent, Ashlyn Krueger, retired while trailing 6-3, 3-1. Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion, is coming off a strong performance at Wimbledon and appeared confident on the hardcourts in Washington.
Osaka expressed her concern for Krueger, who was receiving treatment for an ankle injury during the match, stating, “It’s a tough situation, and I hope that she gets better ASAP.” Osaka’s next challenge will be against Italian player Elisabetta Cocciaretto, who defeated eighth-seeded American Emma Navarro in a closely contested match.
Additionally, rising star Alexandra Eala from the Philippines made headlines by defeating defending champion Leylah Fernandez in straight sets, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1). Eala’s remarkable performance continues her breakout season, which includes a stunning upset over Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon.
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