‘This guy wants it’: Demon’s stunning rise from skinny, hungry kid to ‘huge’ Wimbledon threat

Wimbledon Talking Pts: Kyrgios’ comeback plan revealed; Aussie bolter’s big call after $120k fairytale

Playing on a back court behind Suzanne Lenglen Stadium at Roland Garros, Vukic edged the 16-year-old in the first round of qualifying at the 2020 French Open held in late October due to the pandemic.

There was already a buzz about the Spaniard, who had claimed a couple of Challenger titles under the tutelage of former world No. 1 and Roland Garros champion Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Vukic knew the unusually large crowd that packed the stands around the back court were not there to see him and he is mindful that will again be the case when they meet at the All England Club on one of the two premier stadiums at Wimbledon.

“I’m sure we’ll both remember that match going in. I’m sure he didn’t like me winning there,” he said.

“I saved match point and beat him three sets there. But … I mean, he was a child. He was 16. But there was so much hype around him then (and) there were so many people watching us on that court and you could tell he had a raw power to him already there.

“It was always going to happen (for him). But back then, I wasn’t thinking ‘Oh, this guy is going to be number one’. And I think it was like 12 to 18 months later (that it happened). It was insane, right?”

Vukic, who twice came from a service break down in the third set and saved a match point to defeat his Austrian opponent Ofner, practised with the three-time major champion in Beijing last October and was blown away by the fandom associated with Alcaraz.

“The one thing for me in Beijing was more the it wasn’t necessarily him playing, because he is a very good tennis player, but it was more his fame, how famous he is, and how crazy people are when they see him,” he said.

“(It was about) how this one person can draw so many people, you know, and I’m on court and no-one knows who I am, and he comes on and … everyone’s going insane.

“I’m like, ‘This guy lives in another world’. So it was more about seeing that as a person rather than (knowing) he’s a very good tennis player, obviously.

“It was (Interesting to see) how he handles that, because you have to live a different life with that, for sure.”

Asked whether it would be a life Vukic, who reached a semifinal in Eastbourne last week, would like, he replied; “I probably wouldn’t, to be honest, but that comes with it.”

The Australian has no doubt Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be the leading contenders over the next decade, but the world No. 69 will approach the match believing he can topple the champion.

“Oh, definitely. I think everyone is beatable. Everyone is human. If things go my way, if I play well and serve well and he does not have his best day, 100 percent,” Vukic said.

“I think the more I’m playing and being around these guys, the more you see that they do the same things. It’s not like they’re not playing

the same sport. They’re obviously the best at the sport, but they also can not play well.”

AUSSIE’S RESURGENCE CONTINUES IN FIVE-SET THRILLER

Earlier on Monday, Thompson pumped his fist towards the crowd in a wild celebration after climbing off the canvas at Wimbledon for the second year in succession.

The 30-year-old had trailed the burly Pavel Kotov by two sets on Crt 10 and was in peril of being steamrolled by a player built like a Russian tank.

But just as Thompson did in 2023 when fighting back from two sets down to defeat American Brandon Nakashima, the Sydneysider dug deep once again to prevail 5-7 5-7 6-4 6-4 6-4.

Thompson, who has set up a rematch with Nakashima on Wednesday, required 4hr 6min to defeat Kotov in a physical encounter that would tax the legs of many players.

But the Australian No. 2 is an old hand at dealing with marathon encounters, with the first round outing his 19th five set match. After a slow start, he has improved his record to 8-11 and the longer the encounter, the more the Queen’s Club semi-finalist fancies his chances.

In an interview with Fox Sports after he claimed a maiden ATP Tour title in Mexico in February, the Davis Cup stalwart said he loved stretching his legs and clearing his mind and believes his endurance and mental strength has been a factor in his success.

“As a kid, I loved doing cross country running. A lot of guys are not a fan of running, but I actually don’t mind, so I think maybe that is where the base fitness comes from,” he said.

“And then I’ll also work my tail off with my strength and conditioning coach. So I guess it has never really been a concern lasting matches and I just put that down to hard work.

“There is always a treadmill nearby, or an assault bike, something like that, so I am always trying to get something done, otherwise you lose that fitness or lose that strength, so it is always good to get a little bit of a top up.”

AUSSIE SAVILLE’S TWO-YEAR SLAM DROUGHT FINALLY OVER

Saville claimed her first win at a grand slam in more than two years when defeating American Peyton Stearns 6-4 6-2, but Alex Bolt and Max Purcell fell in straight sets to Scandanavians Casper Ruud and Otto Virtanen.

ELSEWHERE AROUND THE GROUNDS

Jannik Sinner overcame a mid-match wobble to see off the challenge of Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to set up a match against 2021 finalist and compatriot Matteo Berrettini.

“He played really well, he was serving well, I missed a couple of shots,” said Sinner, a semi-finalist last year.

Andy Murray, champion in 2013 and 2016, had been expected to make a decision over whether or not he will play singles at his farewell Wimbledon.

The former world number one underwent surgery to remove a cyst on his spine last week and admitted he still has not fully recovered feeling in his leg.

Murray will, however, now make a decision on Tuesday, with schedulers giving him the final slot on Centre Court for his match against Tomas Machac to allow him more time to make up his mind.

China’s world number eight Zheng Qinwen, the Australian Open runner-up, was the biggest casualty of the day, losing in the first round for a second successive year.

Zheng went down 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 to New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun, who celebrated her first Grand Slam match win.

Zheng were potential semi-final opponents for US Open champion and second-ranked Coco Gauff, who eased past compatriot Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-2.

Former world number one Naomi Osaka claimed her first win at Wimbledon since 2018 when she recovered from a break down in the final set to defeat Diane Parry of France 6-1, 1-6, 6-4.

Four-time Grand Slam title winner Osaka fired 34 winners in the tie, which was decided when Parry served up her 10th double fault.

Victory was extra special for Osaka as it comes a day before her daughter Shai celebrates her first birthday.

“It feels like a dream because I haven’t played here many times,” said Osaka, whose last appearance at the All England Club was in 2019, when she exited in the first round.

Russian men’s fifth seed Daniil Medvedev, a semi-finalist last year, hit 16 aces in his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Aleksandar Kovacevic of the United States.

– Parasite pain for Ruud – “I’ve still never lost on Court One so hopefully I can play a lot more matches on this court,” said Medvedev.

“Last year I said it was unfortunate I had to go to Centre Court for the semis and I lost.” Eighth seed Casper Ruud saw off Alex Bolt of Australia in straight sets and revealed he had been laid low by a parasite since reaching the French Open semi-finals.

“I was mostly in bed for 10, 11 days, which was not what I was kind of hoping for,” said the Norwegian.

Three-time Grand Slam title winner Stan Wawrinka won his Wimbledon opener at the age of 39, beating British wildcard Charles Broom 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.

“I think there is enough reason to keep playing. I don’t want to go home,” said Wawrinka.