DEMON FOCUSING ON 'SMALL WINS' AND TAKING INSPIRATION FROM 'THOMO'

(Getty/Mike Hewitt)

Alex de Minaur was back towards his best on Thursday at Wimbledon as he overcame a slow start to progress past talented Frenchman Arthur Cazaux.

“Not the kind of start I was hoping for…but sometimes that's what happens, and you've got to react,” the Aussie said after his 4-6 6-2 6-4 6-0 victory.

'Demon' was admittedly below his standards in the opening set, but he saw it as an opportunity, as opposed to a negative.

Following a tough stretch leading into Wimbledon, where de Minaur had lost three of his past four matches and cited mental fatigue, he adopted a fresh mindset.

“The old me would be like, ‘I'm definitely not happy with the way I started this match.’ But now I’m looking at it as, I'm happy I reset, I found my game, I battled through some tough moments, and ultimately, I'm ready for another match.”

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Poised at one-set all and 4-4, de Minaur seized control and reeled off the final eight games to advance to the Wimbledon third-round for the fourth time.

Speaking to the media post-match, the 26-year-old shared his admiration for compatriot Jordan Thompson, who continues to embody the fighting Aussie spirit.

“It's pretty surreal to be honest. He might not play his best, he might not feel amazing, but something you can count on is him competing from the first point to the last,” he said.

“That’s what the Australian culture is, that never-say-die attitude.”

De Minaur references many Australian greats, including Rod Laver and, more recently, Pat Rafter and Lleyton Hewitt, whose spirit and grit he wants to embody.

“That’s what we as Australians want the standard to be, to show and let opponents know that, hey, if you’re playing an Aussie, be ready for a battle," the 11th seed stated.

“Growing up, that's what I saw. That was the norm. And that’s why, for me right now, I take a lot of pride in setting that standard for the next generation.”

Draw opens up for Dasha

16th seed Daria Kasatkina let out a huge roar as she advanced to the Wimbledon third round once again.

Kasatkina, representing Australia at the All England Club for the first time, felt immense pressure coming into the event after a string of consecutive losses.

If a pre-match vomit before round one didn't show it, Kastkina's sigh of relief, after she took down Irina-Camelia Begu 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, definitely did.

“Honestly, I’m happy with the way I played today… I kept my focus, and that’s not always easy in these early rounds," she said.

The 28-year-old, who reached the 2018 Wimbledon quarter-finals, is now the highest seed left standing in her quarter of the draw.

“I’ve played long enough to not panic watching the draw," she shared.

“I’ve been through those emotions already…now I just try to stay in my little bubble and do my thing.”

“I think the biggest lesson is…no one is safe here, but also, it’s about how calm you can stay.”

Vukic shares Centre Court with the world No.1

There's no more helpless feeling in tennis right now than playing Jannik Sinner in 'robot' mode.

Facing the world No.1 on Centre Court – his first match inside tennis' most illustrious arena – Aleksandar Vukic knew he'd be up against it.

Sinner, a three-time major winner, showed his class in a scintillating display to take down the Aussie 6-1, 6-1, 6-3 in 101 minutes.

The pre-match plan was to play with aggression, and from the outset, Vukic did exactly that.

The only problem with that: his opponent can match it, and counter it with some shot-making of his own.

“Obviously playing him on Centre Court was a great experience for me. It doesn’t happen every day… just even walking on that court and seeing those names… It's what you work for, for sure," Vukic said upon reflection.

"I think him and Carlos are definitely a few steps, at least two levels above everyone else. And it's pretty evident.

"I've played them both now a few times. Carlos gives you more free points… You can breathe a little bit. Jannik, it's just suffocating."

Rinky saved (temporarily) by the dark

Just as 10th seed Ben Shelton was about to serve for the match and secure a straight-sets victory against Rinky Hijikata, play was suspended despite the clock only striking 9:30pm local time.

Both players will be forced to return on Day 5, but Shelton was understandably furious at the tournament supervisor, as he was held back by officials.

Aussies progress in the doubles

Despite admitting after his miraculous triumph in the second-round that he could "barely walk," Jordan Thompson kept his promise with his doubles partner Pierre-Hugues Herbet by stepping out on court.

Not only did he do that, but he also helped the duo to an impressive win over 13th seeds Jackson Withrow and Nathaniel Lammons 6-4, 7-6(3).

Another Aussie, Matthew Romios, proved too strong alongside American Ryan Seggerman to secure a positive straight-sets result.

In the women's doubles, Ellen Perez, who is seeded at No.7 with her Ukrainian partner Lyudmyla Kichenok, prevailed 7-5, 6-3, while Olivia Gadecki is also through after cruising to a straight-sets win.

Watch Wimbledon live on Stan Sport and the Nine Network.

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