*** ----> De Minaur moves one step closer | THE DAILY TRIBUNE | KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

De Minaur moves one step closer

Sydney : Surprise package Alex De Minaur moved one step closer to reaching the Sydney International final when his last-16 opponent Damir Dzumhur retired hurt yesterday.

Home hopeful De Minaur, 18, created waves by making the last four in Brisbane last week and, after ousting veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in Sydney, he got past the injured Dzumhur 6-2 3-0.

After the match the teenager, who is being coached by Australian great Lleyton Hewitt, told @SydneyTennis: “It’s not ideal to win a match with your opponent withdrawing but I hope he gets better and recovers for the Australian Open. But I’m happy to be where I am at the moment.

“I’m playing some great tennis and I think a lot of it is the great crowd support that I’m getting.”

Daniil Medvedev had a tougher time against Jared Donaldson, triumphing 6-3 4-6 7-5, while Fabio Fognini also needed three sets to edge out Alexandr Dolgopolov 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Benoit Paire beat Leonardo Mayer, Adrian Mannarino saw off Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania and Paolo Lorenzi dumped out top seed Albert Ramos. 

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