'I WAS CLOSE': DE MINAUR REFLECTS ON WIMBLEDON ANGUISH AS DJOKOVIC FINDS A WAY

(Getty/Julian Finney)

What could have been for Alex de Minaur.

The top-ranked Aussie, who was out for redemption after being forced to withdraw from his Wimbledon quarter-final against Novak Djokovic last year, couldn't pull through in a tough 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss.

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There were concerns in the Djokovic camp early in the contest, as the 38-year-old had trouble adjusting to the windy conditions on Centre Court. Yet, an immediate break in the second set initiated the tone for an eventual comeback.

But de Minaur had his chances, most notably in the fourth set when he had a break point for a shot at a 5-1 lead, before he was swept away in a flash.

"It's a shame that we're not still out there playing a fifth set," a deflated de Minaur said.

"I'm sitting here now, a little frustrated that I let that set slip away… He's been pretty good in big moments for a very long time.

"At the moment where I am in my career… It doesn't completely fulfil me, these positives. I want more. I want to be on the other side of this match and finishing this match, coming out on top.

"Yes, I lost to Novak, but I lost in the fourth-round, where I was hoping for more this week."

De Minaur had only recorded one victory against the 24-time Grand Slam champion, which came at last year's United Cup.

Knowing it was going to be one of the biggest tests of his career to date, the 26-year-old is going to look back on the match with a positive attitude.

"I definitely need to look at this match with that mindset, right? That I was close. I probably should've been into a fifth set, and who knows what happens in that fifth set against Novak at Wimbledon," the 11th seed explained.

"From the back of the court, I went toe-to-toe with one of the greats… I was moving the ball well, I was hurting him from the baseline.

"The returning — I know I'm always going to give myself chances, I'm always going to put a lot of pressure on my opponent, and I did that today."

When he needed it most, his serve let him down on countless big points.

The former world No.6 made 55 per cent of his first serves, and although he has added power and strength since his younger years developing on the Tour, it's an area that need attention.

"What I need to improve on is the serve — needs to get me out of trouble, needs to help me in big moments, needs to step up if I want to win these matches," de Minaur shared.

"Again, in the bigger moments today, I think my level dipped, and I didn't rise up to the occasion as I needed to if I wanted to beat someone as good as him."

It wasn't the most ideal preparation leading into Wimbledon, as a result of his shock straight-sets loss at Queen's last month, which hampered the Sydneysider's ranking.

After recharging the batteries for a couple of weeks post-Roland-Garros when he admitted to feeling "burnt out", de Minaur understands the required work that lies ahead.

"I knew going into this tournament, there was a high chance I'd be in a position like this. I didn't take care of business pre-Wimbledon to guarantee myself a top-eight seed… here we are, had to play Novak fourth-round," he said.

"If I'm going to make the next step, then these types of matches need to start going my way.

"The whole back end of the year, I've got very little to defend. It's opportunity after opportunity for me, and I'm just hoping I'm ready to take them."

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