Alex de Minaur says Shanghai scans were a best-case result after his China Open final retirement, and Alex Molcan’s withdrawal has pushed his first match back to Sunday against Rei Sakamoto.
Speaking to tennis.com.au after scans in Shanghai on Saturday 10 October, the Australian No.1 was cautiously optimistic about continuing at the Masters 1000 event.
What the scans showed
“The scans went probably the best-case scenario with what I was feeling,” de Minaur said, according to tennis.com.au. “It could have been a lot, lot worse. So in terms of that, it’s somewhat good news. Obviously there is something; it’s not nothing.”
“Had a hit [after I arrived], test it out and see how I was feeling … all in all, hitting, it felt better than expected,” he added.
De Minaur retired injured in Tuesday’s China Open final against Novak Djokovic after feeling an adductor issue late in the first set.
Molcan withdrawal buys recovery time
As the ninth seed, de Minaur already had a first-round bye. He was due to face Alex Molcan on Friday, but the Slovak withdrew, tennis.com.au reported. AAP via The Canberra Times said de Minaur was handed a walkover into the round of 32 when Molcan retired with an undisclosed ailment on Friday.
That delay means de Minaur’s first match in Shanghai is now scheduled for Sunday against Japan’s Rei Sakamoto, the Australian Open 2024 junior champion who upset former world No.5 Andrey Rublev in straight sets on Friday, tennis.com.au said.
Race to Turin still in view
De Minaur said the timing of the injury has been the hardest part to digest with few weeks left to lock in an ATP Finals place in Turin (15–22 November). He is 10th in the live race, effectively ninth with Jannik Sinner shutting down his season, tennis.com.au reported. Djokovic, one place ahead of him, was eliminated in Shanghai by Hubert Hurkacz on Friday night.
“Not the way I would have liked it to end, and it’s a little bit unfortunate in terms of timing, more than anything,” de Minaur told tennis.com.au. “But all in all, I’m trying to keep a positive outlook on things and taking it day by day.”
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