Juan Martin del Potro reaches final at ASB Classic in Auckland
Friday 12 January 2018 17:12, UK
Alex De Minaur surpassed his Brisbane achievements by reaching his first ATP Tour final at the Sydney International.
The 18-year-old Australian had only won two tour level matches prior to last week but, after reaching the semi-finals in Brisbane, notched up his seventh of the season with a 4-6 6-1 6-1 triumph over experienced Frenchman Benoit Paire.
He is so much fun, he's great, I just love him, he's adorable.
De Minaur, ranked 167 in the world, became the youngest ATP World Tour finalist since American Taylor Fritz at Memphis 2016 and he has a new fan in Billie Jean King, who compared the teenager to his countryman Lleyton Hewitt.
"He is so much fun, he's great, I just love him, he's adorable," said King. "He's got so much fight. He's like Lleyton Hewitt."
In the final, De Minaur will face Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev, who also came from a set down to beat fourth seed Fabio Fognini 2-6 6-4 6-1.
At the ASB Classic in Auckland, Juan Martin del Potro defeated David Ferrer 6-4 6-4 to reach the final.
The Argentinian, who will move back into the top 10 on Monday, is looking for his third ATP Tour title since wrist problems struck in 2014.
He will face Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, who battled past Robin Haase 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-5).
