Demon equals Hewitt with 18-yr Aussie first after winning title in dream Wimbledon build-up

Alex de Minaur has become the highest-ranked Australian male tennis player in 18 years after downing Sebastian Korda to win a grass-court warm-up tournament in the Netherlands.

The 6-2 6-4 win in the Libema Open final in ‘s-Hertogenbosch will guarantee de Minaur a kind draw into Wimbledon, ranked No.7 in the world.

He is the first Aussie man to be ranked as high as No.7 since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.

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De Minaur did not drop a set on route to the title, beating Zizou Bergs, Milos Raonic, Ugo Humbert and finally Korda in the ATP 250 event.

It is his ninth career ATP singles title and his first since the ATP 500 Mexican Open back in February.

De Minaur’s best career performances have come on hard court, where he has won 65% of his tour-level matches compared to 60.9% on grass, however there are many more hard court tournaments meaning more of the Aussie’s grass matches have been at a higher level (ie Wimbledon).

His best career performance at Wimbledon was his 2022 fourth-round appearance where he was upset by Cristian Garin, and compatriot Nick Kyrgios made the final.