Alex de Minaur is being tipped to "go all the way" to Wimbledon glory by Alexei Popyrin, who feels his Sydney pal can succeed where he failed against Novak Djokovic.
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De Minaur is the last Australian standing at Wimbledon after Popyrin went down - but not without a fight - over four sets on Saturday against an ever-improving Djokovic on Centre Court.
Australian No.1 de Minaur has been given an armchair ride into the second week, having won two straightforward three-setters and then being handed a walkover into the last 16 when his French third-round opponent Lucas Pouille pulled out with injury.
De Minaur will face rising French star Arthur Fils in Monday's fourth round with a quarter-final date against Djokovic looming if the seven-time champion, feeling stronger every match after his recent knee operation, can beat Danish 15th seed Holger Rune.
Popyrin, who had Djokovic rattled early in their duel before succumbing 4-6 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-3), believes it's time for his friend and old junior doubles partner de Minaur to shine.
"I think he cause damage, honestly. He's one of the most in-form players in the world right now," Popyrin said.
"He can go out there and cause damage and he should believe that because, honestly, I've practised with them, I've played with him and he can go all the way. I feel like he's got a really good chance."
Asked if he would fancy de Minaur's chances in a quarter-final against the 24-time grand slam champ, Popyrin added: "I think he's really got a good chance against Djokovic.
"I don't want to put any fire in it for Novak, but I think 'Demon', if he brings his A game and plays the way he's been playing all year, has got a chance - but he has to get through his first match."
That's against Fils, the exciting 20-year-old French world No.34, who had to battle for three and a quarter hours against Russia's Roman Safiullin in their rain-interrupted third-round contest before prevailing 4-6 6-3 1-6 6-4 6-3
Meanwhile, de Minaur was left enjoying a restful day, and admitted he was a lucky man following his easiest ever run to the second week of a grand slam.
"Yeah, definitely lucky. Probably the times this goes the most noticed is when you have days, like today and even tomorrow, when the weather is just not good," said de Minaur, who has reached the fourth round in a fourth straight grand slam and is now favourite to make his first quarter-final appearance at SW19.
"So I'm definitely lucky this has happened and I can switch off and already look forward to the next match and put some work in to prepare for that.
"It's always great to get to the second week. The first week is about doing anything you can to stay alive, right? And then once you're able to kind of get through that first week, I feel like it's a completely new tournament, the second week.
"As I've said for a long time, this is where I've wanted to be."
Australian Associated Press
