Tennis fans rip ’embarrassing’ act as Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis win at French Open

Alex de Minaur has served up a brutal dose of revenge to Alex Michelsen at the French Open, with the American teenager reduced to a tantrum-throwing mess. De Minaur stormed into the second round at Roland Garros with a 6-1 6-0 6-2 thrashing of the man who beat him in Los Cabos earlier this year.

On Tuesday night it was a completely different story as the Australian star left his opponent completely demoralised and searching for answers. The 19-year-old Michelsen was left so bamboozled that he ended up throwing a teenage tantrum that John McEnroe would have been proud of.

Alex Michelsen and Alex de Minaur at the French Open.

 

Alex Michelsen blew up at the umpire in his crushing loss to Alex de Minaur at the French Open. Image: Matt Roberts/Getty
 

Michelsen slumped over the net in frustration at one stage, before berating umpire Louis Boucharinc and screaming petulantly when a line call went against him in the final set. Replays showed the ball was out and Michelsen was actually correct, with the American screaming at the umpire: “Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! That is the least funny thing I’ve ever heard in my entire life.”

Alex Michelsen.

 

Alex Michelsen cut a frustrated figure as he was crushed by Alex de Minaur at the French Open. Image: AAP
 

Alex de Minaur’s revenge over Alex Michelsen after loss

For de Minaur it marked the perfect start to his French Open campaign after a miserable opening two days for his compatriots. Ajla Tomljanovic, Daria Saville and Jordan Thompson were among the many to crash out as the Aussies failed to get a single win until de Minaur’s victory.

De Minaur has a big chance to become the first Australian man to make the second week at Roland Garros for 17 years. When asked if this was his best performance at Roland Garros after a series of patchy displays over the last eight years, he responded: “Well, there’s not too many to go from, so I’ll take it! Looking at the scores and everything, it probably is.

“I’m a completely different player than previous years on the surface. I feel comfortable. I feel capable. I’m going to do my very best because ultimately my goals are, at the slams, to go deep.”

Alex De Minaur at the French Open.

 

Alex De Minaur in action against Alex Michelsen at the French Open.
 

When asked about his defeat against Michelsen in Mexico earlier this year, de Minaur chose his words carefully. “That match I’d flown from Rotterdam basically the night before from an indoor event to an outdoor event in Mexico,” he said. “It was quite a quick turnaround. So I probably wasn’t quite ready to play – but I definitely was ready today.”

Michelsen’s display was widely criticised by tennis fans. Some described his petulant display as ‘poor’ and ’embarrassing’.

These kids acting like it’s the end of the world. Look, i get it, the umpire was wrong, he was right. Even so, you make such a big fuss and your game is the way it is. You waste so many points with nonchalance, yet you choose to cling over a single one. Learn to man up, kid!

— Djoker Cristi (@DjokernoleC) May 28, 2024

He’s playing junior tennis in a man’s game. Strange guy.

— mike zarra (@mikezarra) May 28, 2024

MEANWHILE, he won a total of 3 games in 3 sets. he should be more unhappy with his embarrassing level of play than anything else

— rick marsonet (@RMarsonet) May 28, 2024

I watched that whole match. Michelson didn’t stop whining for three sets; about his poor play, De Minaur’s good play, his team’s advice, that line call. He’s a brat basically.

— tennistragic (@tennistragic1) May 28, 2024

Basically, De Minaur played incredible and made Michelsen look like an amateur. His playstyle, especially on clay, won’t work against De Minaur

— Mason💙💛 (@masonyo25) May 28, 2024

Alex de Minaur and Thanasi Kokkinakis break Aussie drought

De Minaur will next face tough Spanish clay-courter Jaume Munar. “The most important thing was to have a positive mindset throughout the whole day because it’s very easy to start complaining about the weather, the conditions, everything, but if you start down that rabbit hole, you can probably guarantee you’re not going to play a good-level match,” he added.

“So you’ve got to take it lightly. You’ve got to see the bright side of it. Even though it’s a little bit fake it until you make it, right? I was telling myself walking into the match that ‘I love these types of conditions, you know I wish every day was like this’.”

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De Minaur’s win came before Aussie wildcard Adam Walton, playing his first grand slam overseas, battled admirably before bowing out 6-2 6-4 7-5 to former French No.1 Arthur Rinderknech. Rinky Hijikata then lost 6-3 7-6 (8-6) 6-1 to impressive Italian Luciano Darderi, becoming the seventh of nine Aussie men in the main draw to depart in the first round.

Australia at least have two players in the second round, with Thanasi Kokkinakis beating compatriot Alexei Popyrin on Tuesday evening. Kokkinakis prevailed in a titanic battle, winning 4-6 7-6 (10-8) 6-3 5-7 6-3.

with AAP

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